Mpulungu Town Council has embarked on a project to rehabilitate the 120 kilometer road that connects Mpulungu to Mbala and Nsama districts.

The road that is strategic for the transportation of agricultural produce and farming inputs will be done using the Constituency Development Fund.

Disclosing the matter to ZANIS Mpulungu Member of Parliament Leonard Mbao observed that the continued increment of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) allocation has resulted in enhanced rural development.

Mr Mbao, who is also Northern Province Minister, has described CDF as a game-changer.

He revealed that the decision to improve the road, which has been in a poor state, is meant to improve the delivery of farming inputs and produce.

“This area is the plateau where we get most of our agricultural produce in this district, and transportation has been a challenge due to the status of the road, the rehabilitation of this road will be key in improving connectivity. 

Mr. Mbao said it is gratifying that the local authority is now able to do road works using its own earth-moving equipment purchased under the 2022 CDF allocation.

“We want to thank the President for the massive increment of CDF, which enabled the council to buy seven pieces of equipment that is being used for road works, unlike in the past when they needed to hire.” Mr Mbao said.

And Mpulungu District Commissioner Gehard Sikazwe said the impact of CDF is a testament to the devolution of functions to the local authorities.

Mr Sikazwe has since commended the council for expediting the project.

“This is what the President intended, that the money and development reach rural areas. It shows that devolution is working,” he said

Mpulungu Town Council Assistant Director for Engineering Efema Chilufya said notable progress has been made on the project.