By NATION REPORTER
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has approved utilization of K40, 073, 364 from the 2023 Constituency Development Fund (CDF)for Muchinga and Serenje Central constituencies.
Serenje Town Council Public Relations Officer, Oscar Malipenga said in a statement that Muchinga Constituency had been authorized to spend its allocation on community projects at a cost of K15, 328,000.00 while K806, 550.00 will be spent on disaster management projects.
Mr Malipenga said K1, 312, 140.00 would be spent on skills development while K2, 151, 856.00 would be for empowerment grants bringing the total expenditure for the year 2023 to K19, 598,546.00.
Mr Malipenga said Serenje Central Constituency had been authorized to spend K15, 324, 000.00 on community projects while K806, 550.00 would be for disaster projects , K1,691, 288.00 for skills development and empowerment grants amounting to K2,150, 800.00.
He said additionally, the Ministry had approved the 2022 allocation for Serenje Central as follows; skill development K209, 180.00 and empowerment grants K293, 000.00 bringing the total approved amount to K20, 474, 000.00.
Mr Malipenga said Provincial Constituency Development Fund Committee Chairperson, Milner Mwanakampwe has since advised the local authority to ensure all payments are made through the banking system without cash payment and also ensure that monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are put in place to ensure follow-ups on the decisions made.
“The Permanent Secretary has further guided the local authority to be submitting quarterly projects implementation reports to the provincial administration, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, area members of Parliament, beneficiaries and other stakeholders,” he said.
He said Provincial Constituency Development Fund Committee Secretary, Clint Susiku has directed the local authority to immediately inform the Constituency Development Fund committees at district level.
Mr Malipenga said Mr. Susiku, who is also acting Provincial Local Government Officer, said the approval had been done in accordance with section 4 (c) of the Constituency Development Fund Act No.11 of 2018.
