THE Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) has commended the government for making positive strides in actualising the decentralisation policy through the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
ZCSD Chairperson, Jocob Makambwe says with the channeling of funds directly to the local level it helps to build capacity of the local people to plan, budget, manage and monitor the resources to ensure maximum benefits.
ZANIS reports that Mr Makambwe was speaking during the opening of the District Training of Trainers’ workshop for Community Budget Groups (CBGs) in Rufunsa District.
“Zambia Council for Social Development is pleased with the increase of the (CDF) by the Government from K1.6 million to K36.1 million. We believe this is a great stride towards decentralisation by channeling funds directly to the local level,” said Mr Makambwe.
He however added that there is need to build the capacity of the local people to plan, budget, manage and monitor the resources to ensure communities accrue maximum benefits.
Mr Makambwe further said that ZCSD has set up Community Budget Groups so that it can be involved in making submissions to the national budgeting process as well as monitor the way resources are being utilised especially with the increased CDF.
And ZCSD Executive Director, Leah Mitiba has implored Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community Budget Groups to participate in the national budgeting process and amplify community voices.
“This project which ZCSD has been implementing in partnership with NGOCC and OXFAM with funding from the European Union (EU) comes at a time when the government recently passed the national planning and budgeting Act. No 1 of 2020 which seeks to promote the participation of ordinary citizens in the budgeting processes,” said Ms Mitiba.
She added ZCSD is working with partners to build a strong citizenry and enhance their participation in the development processes by creating responsive and relevant civil society that can work as a bridge of knowledge and information to the community on their obligations, rights and responsibilities.
Meanwhile, members of the CBGs and CSOs have commended ZCSD for equipping them with knowledge and tools to participate in decision making processes.
Mpanshya and Bunda Bunda CBGs Chairpersons, Buster Mumba and Maria Mwale said they were grateful to ZCSD and its partners for equipping them with knowledge on how to participate in the development agenda of the country.
They however appealed to the sponsors of the project to consider continuing with the project as it has only been implemented in two chiefdoms of Mpanshya and Bunda Bunda leaving out Shikabeta.
The Beyond Numbers Project that has been implemented by ZCSD in partnership with NGOCC and OXFAM with support from EU since 2021 in five districts of Monze, Mufulira, Lusaka, Mpika and Rufunsa has come to an end.
