Government through the Kawambwa Town Council has given out a total of Seven Million, Three Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred Fifty-Eight Kwacha (K7, 327,458.00) to 40 beneficiaries under the 2023 Constituency Development Fund (CDF) loans empowerment component.
Kawambwa Central Constituency has seen 20 business groups and individuals receive a total amount of K3, 734,029.00 while Pambashe Constituency has seen 20 beneficiaries receive a total amount of K3, 593,429.00.
The colourful handover ceremony that was held at the Kawambwa Public Square was officiated by Luapula Province Minister Njavwa Simutowe who said government had prioritized decentralization as a major driver for attaining development, reducing poverty and supporting job creation through citizen engagement and participation at local level.
The Minister stated that government through the able leadership of His Excellence, the Republican President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema had opened arms to the people in the communities by empowering them with resources aimed at improving their livelihoods without leaving anyone behind.
He said the overall goal of CDF was to facilitate the delivery of public goods and services to foster development in local communities, by ensuring that an enabling environment for holistic development at Constituency level where local communities can have the opportunity to make choices and implement projects that can improve their wellbeing.
The Mbala lawmaker who was accompanied by Luapula Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Ms. Prudence Chinama said government recognized the importance of empowering communities, adding that the awarding of huge amounts to the beneficiaries, was a clear demonstration of governments position in empowering the people and meeting their basic needs in order to create a conducive environment for Zambia to become a prosperous middle-income nation by 2030.
He urged civic leaders, Ward Development Committee’s and Local Authority staff to extend an olive branch to every Zambian that was eligible to benefit from CDF through massive sensitization and community engagements, further appealing to the beneficiaries to utilize the funds prudently and for the intended purposes.
And Kawambwa Town Council Chairperson Kalumba Chifumbe disclosed that the Local Authority had sponsored a total of 552 pupils to various boarding schools around the country in 2023, further stating that the Local Authority will double the number of beneficiaries in 2024 under secondary school boarding component as money was readily available.
He said as per directive by the Republican President His Excellence Mr. Hakainde Hichilema of having no learner sitting on the floor by the end of 2022, the Local Authority procured a total of 6,574 school desks in 2023 and distribution to various schools in the district was currently ongoing.
The Council Chairperson disclosed that the Local Authority in 2023 sponsored a total of 970 students to undergo various skills trainings at various institutions countrywide, further saying a total of 144 groups and cooperatives were sponsored from the 2 Constituencies and had ventured in various projects among them livestock rearing, fish farming, tailoring and agro business among others.
The 40 beneficiaries from the 2 Constituencies namely Kawambwa Central and Pambashe will venture in lodge and restaurant business, cattle rearing, agro business, block making business, food processing, transport and logistics and milling projects among others.
This is contained in a statement issued by Kawambwa Town Council Public Relations Officer Joe Kashi this morning.
