Bwana Mkubwa law maker says the bureaucracy in the disbursement of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) by Ndola City Council is delaying developmental projects in the constituency.
In a statement made available to Money FM News, Bwana Mkubwa law maker Dr Jonas Chanda says the Ndola City Council has not disbursed any funds despite the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Local Government having released the full CDF amounts to Bwana Mkubwa Constituency for 2017 and 2018 totaling to K3 million.
Dr Chanda says the constituency received the 2017 CDF full amount of K1.4 million in November 2017, but that a year and two months after not a single amount of the K1.4 million has been disbursed and not a single development project has been embarked on in the constituency.
“Government in December 2018 gave the constituency another K1.6 million as 2018 CDF but the funds have also not been disbursed, the municipality has about K3 million of CDF for Bwana Mkubwa Constituency, He said.
Dr Chanda says it is disappointing that Ndola City Council has not disbursed any funds due to bureaucratic processes despite the Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale and his Permanent Secretary Mr Amos Malupenga approving the CDF projects almost a year ago.
He says delays in the disbursement of CDF means that all approved development projects in the 2017 CDF are not only affected, but the money is losing value due rising costs of materials and inputs triggered by inflation and a depreciating exchange rate of the kwacha to the US dollar.
Dr Chanda has cited the construction of Kantolomba clinic, Mwenye clinic, Placenta pits for maternities at Mushili and Kaloko Clinics, new toilets at Kansengu market in Mushili, and renovation of Jacaranda police post, as well as all women and youth empowerment programs as someof the projects that have negatively been affected due to the late disbursement of the funds.
“I also wish to remind Ndola City Council that all accrued bank interests on these unused funds must remain in the Bwana Mkubwa constituency CDF account and should not to be used for any other purpose apart from development projects,’’ Dr Chanda said.
He has since appealed to Minister of local government Hon Vincent Mwale and Permanent Secretary Mr Amos Malupenga to intervene and compel Ndola City Council to disburse the 2017 CDF for the Bwana Mkubwa Constituency development projects they both approved.
And when contacted for a comment, Ndola City Council Public Relations Manager Tilyenji Mwanza said she will comment after consulting management.
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