Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Garry Nkombo has commissioned several assets acquired under the Kalomo Central Constituency Development Fund (CDF) 2022 allocation.
Among the assets include an earth moving equipment, a caterpillar grader worth K5.8 million, a Landcruiser CDF monitoring vehicle, a public ablution block and a new civic center built under the equalization capital projects fund.
The Minister also handed over One million Kwacha worth of cheques to 80 women’s groups in Kalomo central constituency and inspected 700 desks to be distributed to several schools in the constituency.
And Mr Nkombo has commended Kalomo Town Council for implementing some of the Presidential directives such as providing school desks and for putting up water and sanitation reticulation facilities such as the new ablution block in town.
Mr Nkombo said Kalomo Central Constituency has demonstrated the development trajectory desired by government by utilizing its 2022 CDF allocation according to the development wishes and needs of the grassroot levels.
“I wish to state that Kalomo central and Kanchibiya constituencies are among the top that have done well in the execution of CDF projects in the country. This is how the government desires. This fund is meant to be a life changer in our communities, that is why we decentralized it to the grassroot level so that everyone benefits from the national cake’’ Mr Nkombo observed.
He also said the government has closed the gap of approving CDF applications from national level and has now delegated it to the local provincial level where project proposals should not take not more than two weeks before approval.
The Minister also warned of stern action against officers who would be found wanting to frustrate the government’s development agenda especially in the procurement process of assets under CDF.
‘’I am taking this opportunity as a platform to warn procurement officers to adhere to our procurement principle and benchmarks. If you may be found wanting not to work with us in our development agenda, by frustrating our efforts, we will give you a way to part with us, ‘’ Mr Nkombo says.
Meanwhile, Kalomo Central Parliamentarian, Harry Kamboni said his constituency is contemplating to purchase a water drilling rig in the 2023 allocation to address water challenges in the communities.
Kalomo Town Council Chairperson, Coy Makaya earlier briefed the minister that all the two constituencies in the district (Kalomo central and Dundumwezi) are working well in the implementation of CDF projects.