Over K80 million of the 2024 Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has been committed for grants and bursaries in respect of 5, 359 applications in Central Province.
Provincial Constituency Development Committee (PCDC) Secretary, Clint Susiku, says the committee scrutinised 5, 615 proposals received all valued at over K241 million.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kabwe, Mr Susiku said during the meeting on Monday, 12th February, 2024, the committee considered a total of 5, 615 applications.
“The 12 member team drawn from specialised departments chaired by the Provincial Permanent Secretary convened on 12th February, 2024 to consider approvals of CDF for 2024. But the process could not be completed because forms on community projects were not well completed,” Mr Susiku said.
Mr Susiku, who is also the Provincial Local Government Officer, said the secretariat is working on improving and to collect some of the submitted applications on community projects and disaster community projects.
“As you may know, CDF has three main components namely projects, grants and bursaries. These are further subdivided into community projects and community disaster projects, and grants, loans, skills development and secondary schools boarding,” he explained.
And Mr Susiku said President Hakainde Hichilema is concerned on how these procurements are being done.
He said there is a need to standardise the way of reporting on CDF projects among the PCDF committee, the attorney general and the procurement unit.
He said the three institutions are key for the successful implementation of the CDF programmes and projects but the reporting is seemingly not harmonised.
He noted that the local authorities may take advantage knowing that the reporting system is flawed.
“In some cases, we have seen, for instance, if a particular local authority wants to buy desks. The reporting should recognise the three entities. If we’re going to procure 500 desks at K5,000.00, by the time it reaches the procurement, it could have been adjusted already,” he observed.
