CDF Is Workable Says Mutati

The Minister for Technology and Science Felix Mutati has said the revamped Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is workable and yielding significant results.  

Speaking at a press tour of the St Mawaggali college in Choma, Mr Mutati pointed out that the trade training institution had taken advantage of CDF money to enrol 170 local youths in skills development programs.

The Minister commended the college’s management for delivering practical skills training, in particular its success in manufacturing desks so that every child in Zambia can sit at a table in school. The minister called on all TEVET colleges to emulate St Mawaggali’s initiative.

The government massively increased funding for the CDF in the 2022 budget, upping the allocation from K1.6 million to K25.7 million per constituency. Of this, K5 million has been ringfenced for youth empowerment programs, while the rest is aimed towards supporting small businesses in their economic development.

Along with the increased social cash transfer program, the scaled-up CDF represents the largest social safety net in the history of Zambia.  Government has admitted there have been problems with uptake for the CDF, particularly in rural constituencies, however ministers are now confident it is seeing results and urge Zambians to apply for funding through their local representatives.  

While visiting St Mawaggali’s, Mr Mutati also announced that the Ministry of Education is planning to build 3,800 new classrooms In the province. He therefore praised the college for its efforts in large scale desk production and urged the students to step up their efforts.

He also told students that agricultural skills training would be supported with an entrepreneurial outlet market survey to help them start their own businesses.