President Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated that the increment in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) will improve people’s livelihoods especially in rural areas.
President Hichilema says this is the reason government decided to increase further the CDF from 25.7 to 28.3 Million Kwacha in the 2023 national budget.
ZANIS reports that President Hichilema said this through Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary, Henry Mukungule during this year’s Malaila traditional ceremony of the Bisa people of Nabwalya in Mpika district of Muchinga province.
The Head of State said the government is committed to uplifting the living standards of not only the people of Nabwalya, but the country as a whole.
President Hichilema informed the people of Nabwalya that money has been set aside to work on the dilapidated parts of Mpika-Nabwalya road as the government is still looking for a lasting solution on the said road.
“With this money if utilised well you can see a lot of change in all the sectors, you can construct schools and also this road can be worked on very well,” President Hichilema said.
He further encouraged the people of Nabwalya chiefdom to form cooperatives and apply for funds so as to develop the district and the chiefdom at large.
President Hichilema further announced that government has secured 300 Million United States Dollars for the development of farm blocks which will see the creation of jobs in agri-business.
He added that the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) has developed seven Empowerment products valued at 365 million kwacha targeting citizens, Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives and 11.2 million has been allocated for various interventions in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sub sectors.
And speaking earlier, Chief Chikwanda’s representative Innocent Kalunga appealed to government to construct the Mpika- Nabwalya road.
Mr Kalunga said the Mpika -Nabwalya road is a death trap adding that it is disheartening to have such roads when the country will be celebrating it’s 58th Independence Day.
“This place is failing to develop due to this bad road, investors can not come and invest here with this kind of a road,” He lamented.
Mr Kalunga added that lack of schools in the area as well as communication network has affected the people and development.
“We only have one primary school here which is also being used for upper grades, we do not have a communication network, this Zamtel is on and off,” He said.
And Mr Kalunga has since thanked President Hakainde Hichilema for the massive development that has taken place in some parts of the country.
He added that the people of Nabwalya are also expecting to see the same development.
Among those who attended this year’s Malaila Traditional ceremony are government officials, residents, Paramount Chief Mpezeni and other chiefs among others.