Chililabombwe Municipal Council (CMC) has disbursed grants worth about K1.4 million to 70 women and youth clubs as part of the 2022 Constituency Development Funds (CDF) empowerment component.
The local authority has also disbursed about K9 million for various community projects among them road and drainage works, construction of health posts, classrooms and an ablution block.
These include works on roads and drainages in Yotam Muleya, Mukuka and Hellen Kaunda wards worth K2.6 million as well as the construction of a health post and an incinerator worth K1.6 million to cater for James Phiri, Nvula and Matthew Nkoloma wards.
Other works include the construction of a 1×3 classroom block at Kakoso combined school worth K1.2 million and an ablution block in Joseph Mwilwa ward worth about K546 thousand as well as the construction of roads and drainages in Lubansa valued at K3 million.
Speaking when he disbursed the cheques over the weekend, Chililabombwe Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Kabuswe called for quality works by the selected contractors and the need for the local authority to enhance monitoring and supervision.
Mr Kabuswe further disclosed that the district hospital under construction is scheduled to become operational under phase one before the end of the year while the second phase which will include a maternity wing and mortuary will be done next year using part of CDF.
He urged the farming community in the constituency to take advantage of the recently acquired tractors to increase their yields in line with government’s resolve to promote mechanized agriculture.
The MP, who is also Mines and Minerals Development Minster, called for patience regarding the future operations of Konkola Copper Mines KCM) while urging the constituents to take advantage of the free education policy to enroll children in schools.
The constituency has been purchasing desks for various schools courtesy of the CDF in line with President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive to ensure that no pupil across the country sits on the floor.
Mr Kabuswe also presented certificates to various youths that have graduated with various skills which include carpentry, tailoring and joinery, and metal fabrication among others.
And Chililabombwe District Commissioner Precious Njekwa hailed government for increasing the CDF from K25.7 million to K28.3 million in the 2023 national budget as it would translate into improved livelihoods.
Ms Njekwa urged the beneficiary women and youth groups who each received cheques worth K20 000 to effectively utilize the funds and grow their enterprises to improve their living standards.
She also called on the youths with good secondary school qualifications to apply for degree programmes as the district has been granted an allocation of 50 scholarships with a named university.
Meanwhile, Chililabombwe Mayor Lucky Sichone said the constituency has been empowered massively through government’s disbursement of CDF twice in six months as more that 600 youths have been empowered with skills.
Mr Sichone assured that checks and balances will be provided as the beneficiaries have been provided with financial literacy warning that clubs that would misuse the empowerment grants will be held accountable.