Mpika Town Council has approved over K6 million bursaries for skills development under the 2025 Constituency Development Funds (CDF).

District Assistant Community Development Officer Mwale Kalifungwa confirmed the approval of the bursaries to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) Yesterday.

Mr Kalifungwa said of the approved funds, K 4.7 million will be used to pay fees for 222 skills development students while the rest will go towards payment of secondary school fees for 428 pupils under secondary boarding school bursaries.

He explained that CDF has continued making a significant impact in the lives of many people in the district, adding that this is a clear indicator that the government is committed to ensuring that every person has an opportunity for education.

“Constituency development funds CDF is making a positive change in the lives of our people,”he said.

And Mpika District Commissioner David Siame noted that many youths have enrolled to acquire skills that will give them a comparative advantage in society.

Mr Siame has since urged all the students and pupils who have received the bursaries to use the rare opportunity to improve their livelihoods.

“The impact that CDF has brought in our communities cannot be denied and hence must be supported by all well-meaning citizens,” Mr Siame said.

Meanwhile, Mpika Youth Resources Centre Assistant Manager Kelvin Walubita appealed to the local authority to consider increasing the number of students who want to do Skills development in the district.

Mr Walubita stated that youths are leaders of tomorrow hence they must be equipped with knowledge in order to positively contribute to national development.

He said the Youth Resource Centre needs more youths to venture into carpentry, tailoring and bricklaying among other courses.