CHIFUNGULA

THE wanton abuse of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), as revealed by the Auditor General, is a source of concern and must be addressed seriously.
It demonstrates the lack of respect for public resources and the greed in some leaders who are more interested in accumulating finances they do not deserve.
This is not the first time issues of misapplication and misappropriation of the CDF are being brought to the attention of the public.
Therefore, the country cannot afford to treat this important matter with a nonchalant shrug.
It is clear that if nothing is done to reverse this trend of abuse, the CDF will not yield the desired results of improving living conditions of citizens in their respective constituencies.
It is bothersome to have councillors and council officials in seven local authorities in the country misapply CDF amounting to more than K230, 000 which they have paid themselves in sitting allowances.
The latest Auditor General’s report on the management of CDF and grants to local authorities indicates that the officials made 74 transactions to siphon a total of K238, 154.
This is contrary to CDF guideline number 3 (d), which prohibits payment of allowances from the CDF.
Some studies have previously indicated that many constituencies have been unable to account for the CDF, resulting in the loss of public funds in some cases.
The CDF guidelines are too weak in enforcing these provisions as the institutions administering the CDF lack the necessary legal backing.
The studies conducted by Caritas Zambia and the Economics Association of Zambia on the impact of the CDF point to the fact that audit reports have revealed massive corruption in the utilisation and management of the CDF which is as a result of lack of reporting and poor oversight.
Sadly too, despite the reports of corruption, the culprits have not been punished.
It is clear that without a proper legislative framework and strong systems for accountability, decentralisation schemes, including the CDF, are more likely to bring corruption to the local level than achieve greater gains in development.
The CDF is an innovative idea to spread development to constituencies and in places where it is being utilised responsibly, there is appreciable change taking place.
Of particular poignancy is the attitude of officials who are supposed to be spearheading development in their constituencies and yet, they seem more interested in amassing wealth at any cost.
It is depressing that instead of discussing the suggestion on how to allocate the CDF in line with the needs and sizes of constituencies, issues of abuse are taking a prominent stage. This must stop.
The Zambian people should not sit back and watch K168, 342 in the under-developed district of Mporokoso channelled to payment of sitting and transport allowances for councillors.
How could one explain the irresponsibility of officials in Chilubi who decided to use K18, 000 from the CDF to award themselves in sitting allowances, refreshments and payment of casual workers? Is such expenditure permissible under the CDF guidelines?
The officers in charge of the local authorities where these glaring irregularities have been cited must provide clear answers to the worrisome audit queries.
The fight against corruption which the Government is passionate about would be frustrated if such conduct was not checked.
There must be explicit communication strategies to create awareness on the utilisation of these funds.
As some researchers have established, most residents are ignorant on CDF projects in their constituencies, and this has made some officials take advantage to siphon money for illegitimate causes.
The relevant authorities must impose sanctions on officials at the centre of the abuse of the CDF to serve as a deterrent to others.