Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Henry Mukungule says the proposed K167.3 billion 2023 national budget speaks to the needs of the people.
Mr. Mukungule says the increase in the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) from K25.7 million to K28 .3 million in the recently announced 2023 budget by Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane is a clear evidence of how the UPND administration cares for citizens.
The Permanent Secretary explains that the increase of CDF entails that more community developmental projects will be added and done.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Mukungule said this when he addressed social Cash Transfer beneficiaries in Kaole area of Mpika Town on Friday.
The additional money to CDF means that more beneficiaries will be added to benefit from the component of boarding and skills empowerment.
” Let us take advantage of this increase for next year once it’s has been approved by Parliament to identify
projects that will benefit the community,” He said.
He said the proposed 2023 national budget is a game changer especially for the remote parts of Zambia.
Mr Mukungule says the scaling up of Social Cash Transfer beneficiaries at national , provincial and Town level is another evidence of how President Hakainde Hichilema has the interest of the Zambian people at heart.
And Provincial Welfare Officer Jacob Miti says the social Protection program allows other dependant to continue getting paid for 3 months before the beneficiary household can be removed from the scheme in case of death of the beneficiary.
Mr. Miti adds that the household is then re-assessed on whether they are still eligible to be on the scheme or not.
Beneficiaries being added to the program should prudently utilise the funds by taking a leaf from other beneficiaries whose lives have changed through SCT funds.
” This money is not met for an individual but the entire household to uplift their living standard,” Mr Miti emphasised.