.CHENDA

By CHARITY MOONGA –

THERE are serious flaws in the manner in which the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is being used under the current regulations, Local Government and Housing Minister Emmanuel Chenda has told Parliament.
Mr Chenda bemoaned the irregularities in the manner in which the CDF was being administered by various local authorities countrywide, saying there was need to ensure that the funds were used for the intended purposes.
The Ministry of Local Government has since started working out modalities to review the guidelines to ensure proper administration of CDF.
Mr Chenda was answering a question-for-oral-answer raised by Rufunsa MMD MP Kenneth Chipungu in Parliament yesterday.
Mr Chipungu wanted to find out when the 2013 CDF for Rufunsa would be released and what had caused the delay.
Parliament heard that there were reports of misappropriation of the funds, lack of accountability and unaudited projects by some councils in the country.
The Rufunsa CDF for 2013 amounting to K1.3 million was stolen by some officials at the ministry who had since been dismissed and taken to court.
He was holding discussions with the Treasury to ensure that the funds were paid to the constituency before the end of December this year.
Chadiza MMD MP Allan Mbewe said since there were flaws in the manner in which CDF was being used, its administration should be done by the offices of members of Parliament.
Earlier, opposition MPs took Government to task over what they termed as on-going chaos in the country.
Contributing to estimates of revenue for State House, Monze UPND MP Jack Mwiimbu accused the Government of having created a constitutional crisis.
He urged the Government not to take advantage of the peace that was existing in the country.
State House must be protected until another person is legally elected by the Zambian people.
The PF should go for a convention and also ensure that issues discussed in Cabinet are not brought into public domain.
Leader of Government business in Parliament Yamfwa Mukanga and Youth, Sports and Child Development Minister Chishimba Kambwili said the PF Government would do everything possible to uphold the law and the Constitution.
Debating the motion on estimates of revenue for State House, Mr Mukanga said the PF was united.
Parliament passed estimates of revenue for State House, office of the Vice-President, Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit and National Assembly.