By Scoop Reporter
THE Kawambwa Town Council has disbursed a total of K 4,656,617.58 to 225 groups and cooperatives under the 2024 Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
A total of 115 groups and cooperatives from Kawambwa Central Constituency have received K 2, 328,308.79 while Pambashe Constituency has seen a total of 110 groups and cooperatives receive K 2,328,308.79.
Speaking at the colourful handover ceremony held at the Public square, Luapula Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Prudence Chinama said the Government attached great importance to the spreading of development to all Zambians hence the increase in CDF allocation to K 30.6 million in 2024.
Ms. Chinama stated that CDF was meant to address the socio-economic development of people at Constituency level, as well as reducing poverty and enhancing regional equity.
She said CDF grants were creating economically-resilient families and communities capable of making significant contributions to national development adding that beneficiaries needed to be honest and diligent in utilizing the funds.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary stated that the Government was mandated to fighting poverty at local level using various channels and CDF remained key to ensuring that youths and women in the communities were not left out in the development agenda it was championing
Ms. Chinama added that there was a need for grants beneficiaries to compliment the Government’s efforts by ensuring that funds were prudently utilized according to the intended purposes, further encouraging those that did not succeed to be funded under the 2024 component not to give up but re-apply.
And Kawambwa District Commissioner Godfrey Chilambwe revealed that the district had seen a lot of economic activity due to the Government’s continuous empowerment of people through CDF.
Mr. Chilambwe said more infrastructure was under construction in all the wards through CDF adding that the Government had prioritized the provision of quality health service delivery, decent housing for workers, safe drinking water and a conducive learning environment for learners.
The District Commissioner further urged all beneficiaries to utilize the funds prudently by sticking to the proposals of projects they applied for and improve the livelihoods of their families and those around them.
The 225 beneficiaries will venture in various projects among them, livestock, village banking, agriculture, energy, poultry farming, peanut butter production and fish farming.