NCHANGA Member Parliament Derricky Chilundika says the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is meant to benefit every Zambian irrespective of their political affiliation, tribe or background.
Mr Chilundika has also dismissed assertions by some sections of society claiming that the current CDF is only benefiting United Party for National Development (UPND) members.
He notes that the government under the able leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema wants every Zambian to benefit from the CDF.
ZANIS reports that the lawmaker said this today when he met local taxi drivers at his Parliamentary Office in Chingola.
“Us in the UPND wants every Zambian to benefit from CDF, whether one is UPND or PF or any other political party as long as they are Zambians, they are eligible to benefit,” he said.
The taxi drivers raised several concerns and challenges affecting their work and livelihoods.
Among the issues raised, included; bad state of township roads, harassment from Traffic Police Officers and lack of empowerment, among other issues.
In response, Mr Chilundika implored the taxi drivers to form cooperatives and apply for CDF grants.
Mr Chilundika explained to them that once they form cooperatives they can invest in village banking or any income generating business ventures, in the same way the local bus drivers are doing.
He assured them that the government has placed township roads rehabilitation as one key element in ensuring national development.
The law maker added that the dilapidated roads in the area will be worked on this year by the local authority in order to ease their movements.
Mr Chilundika further implored the taxi drivers against breaking traffic rules and to remain law abiding citizens, as doing so they will work peacefully without being harassed by Traffic Police Officers.
“If you break the law you are on your own,but I will support you where you are being victimised wrongly,” Mr Chilundika said.
Meanwhile, local taxi drivers have commended the lawmaker and government for giving them an audience to freely express themselves as citizens.
Osten Katayi, a local taxi driver and Chairperson of Kabundi Taxi Station, said the meeting with the member of Parliament has opened the minds of taxi drivers to look beyond their normal work, by forming a cooperative in order for them to also benefit from CDF.
“As local taxi drivers we are happy that finally we have had an audience with our MP, am sure things will change going forward,”Mr Katayi said.
During the same meeting Mr Chilundika gifted the taxi drivers with branded shirts as part of their uniform.
