Southern Province Minister Credo Nanjuwa has implored the Provincial Development Coordinating Committee (PDCC) to make progressive initiatives using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Mr Nanjuwa said the progressive initiatives should include providing alternative sources of water for human and livestock amidst the declared drought.
He observed that it is important for some (CDF) funded projects to be aligned to programmes that will essentially mitigate the negative effects of climate change.
Mr Nanjuwa said during the PDCC meeting in Choma. that the meeting was called to re prioritise development projects following the declaration of the prevailing drought as a national disaster and emergency by President Hakainde Hichilema last Thursday.
” With this drought that has hit the country, particularly our province, it is important that we align community projects this year that are funded under CDF towards mitigating negative effects of climate change’’, Mr Nanjuwa said.
Mr Nanjuwa said the impact of the disaster can not be underestimated as it has not only affected the livelihoods of farmers but also caused economic instability in the country.
He also stated that in the face of drought, it is important for both state and non-state actors to unite and address the pressing needs of communities.
Southern Province Permanent Secretary Namani Monze said there is a need to harness collective strength of resources and navigate through the effects of climate change.
” I appeal to all District Administrations here in Southern Province, to identify areas in our plans where we can align projects especially CDF funded ones and respond to the climate change effects. Dr Monze said.
In response to the Minister’s call, Gwembe District Council Chairperson Collet Ndhlovu, suggested that districts should use CDF allocations to support irrigation projects in communities so that farmers can have water for animals and crops.
” My suggestion is that we can use some loans and grants under CDF to be channelled towards irrigation projects in each community so that we sustain crop production in the province. I think it is the only way out for now, because this drought is not for today only’’, Mr Ndhlovu lamented.
And his Kalomo counterpart Coy Makaya added that the irrigation grants should be given to identified individual farmers as opposed to cooperatives if the objective has to be achieved.
” The best way to ensure that we respond to the challenge in Kalomo is by identifying individual farmers and giving them grants to go into irrigation farming, that way we will achieve our objective,’’ Mr Makaya suggested.
Meanwhile, Sinazongwe Council Chairperson Cliff Siachibweka said the provincial administration should consider rehabilitating irrigation schemes that are in the district to enhance irrigation farming.
