We promised, we’ve delivered on CDF – HH

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says his government has fulfilled its promise to increase the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and take national resources closer to communities. And President Hichilema has urged Zambians to vote for the UPND in Thursday’s general election so that his government can further increase CDF and complete ongoing development projects. Speaking to News […]

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says his government has fulfilled its promise to increase the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and take national resources closer to communities.

And President Hichilema has urged Zambians to vote for the UPND in Thursday’s general election so that his government can further increase CDF and complete ongoing development projects.

Speaking to News Diggers, President Hichilema said the previous government did not demonstrate commitment to decentralising public resources, as evidenced by the K1.6 million that each constituency received in 2021.

He reminded voters that the UPND increased CDF to K25.7 million per constituency in 2022 before progressively raising it to K40 million in 2026.

“We promised the people of Zambia that we would take resources away from Lusaka and put them in the constituencies, wards and communities where our people live. We promised to increase CDF, and we have delivered. From K1.6 million per constituency in 2021, today every constituency is receiving K40 million,” President Hichilema said.

“The previous government did not care about genuine decentralisation. How could a constituency with many wards, schools, health facilities and kilometres of roads be expected to develop with only K1.6 million in a whole year? In some cases, that amount could not even build a proper classroom block. We said this was unacceptable, and we changed it.”

President Hichilema said the increased allocation had enabled communities to construct classroom blocks, health facilities, police posts, markets, bridges and other infrastructure without waiting for decisions from Lusaka.

He said CDF had also provided secondary school and skills-development bursaries to young people who would otherwise have been unable to continue with their education.

“Today, people in the wards are deciding what development they need. If they need a classroom, they identify it. If they need a maternity wing, a bridge, a market shelter or a borehole, they decide through their local structures. That is what decentralisation means. Government money belongs to the people, and it must work for the people,” he said.

President Hichilema said CDF under the UPND was not reserved for ruling-party cadres, stressing that youth and women-led cooperatives were entitled to apply for empowerment grants and loans regardless of their political affiliation.

“Under PF you saw that every government tender had to favour cadres. Under this administration, CDF is not for UPND cadres. It is taxpayers’ money meant for every Zambian. Any group of youths or women who form a cooperative, prepare a viable business proposal and have their application approved through the Ward Development Committee must be supported,” he said.

“We do not ask for a UPND membership card. We do not ask which party you voted for. What we want is a proper application and a business that can create jobs and improve livelihoods. Whether you are UPND or you do not belong to any political party, CDF is for you. But if you vote for others, this will development will be gone. Those others want to take you backwards where you had no say in CDF projects and money was being shared by a few”

The President said empowerment loans and grants were intended to help citizens establish and expand businesses in agriculture, transport, manufacturing, trading and other productive sectors.

He urged beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly rather than treating the programme as an opportunity to obtain free government money.

“These loans and grants must create businesses and jobs. We want young people to buy equipment, grow crops, process food, rear livestock and provide services in their communities. If this President did not do business, did not start farming, he was not going to be where he is today. We want more young people to follow those footsteps.” President Hichilema said.

He said the UPND intended to allocate more money to CDF if re-elected, but warned that this could only happen if Zambians protected the programme by voting for leaders who believed in decentralisation.

“If you want CDF to continue growing, vote for the UPND. If you want more classrooms, desks, health posts, bursaries, loans and grants, vote for the party that has demonstrated that it believes in taking resources to the people,” said President Hichilema.

“Zambia must not go backwards. We promised increased CDF and we have delivered. We promised decentralisation and we have delivered. The evidence is in your constituencies. On Thursday, go and vote for continued development, vote for increased CDF and vote for the UPND.”