A CATHOLIC priest has expressed appreciation to President Hakainde Hichilema for the emphasis on using the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to develop communities.
Speaking during Sunday’s mass at Ndola’s Franciscan centre, Father Ferena Lambe, who is also minister provincial of the Franciscan Friars in Zambia and Malawi, commended Government’s plan to increase the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation from the current K28.3million to K57 million.
He said constituency members, including small Christian communities, priests and all stake holders, must take advantage of the opportunity to claim their share of CDF in order to improve their various communities, in line with President Hichilema’s encouragement when he visited the Copperbelt recently.
Fr Lambe also encouraged hard work, devoid of politics to make the country a better place to live in.
“Yesterday (Saturday), I went round and money is there, which the President released, but we are still struggling,” he said.
“Let’s make use of this money and I challenge the Parish and the priest to get involved.”
Fr Lambe praised the impact of CDF in communities across the country, saying it is life changing and requires appreciation from all stakeholders.
However, the priest noted that the ambitious CDF programme has not been publicised or pronounced enough for it to be fully appreciated by communities.
Fr Lambe, who on Saturday, together with other priests from Ndola, Luanshya and Kitwe embarked on a CDF familiarisation tour in Ndola’s Chifubu constituency, noted the need to support ambitious projects by all stakeholders, including priests.
“Let’s work together, politics aside, let us work, and I would like to challenge those who participate in politics to help us; that is our money,” he said.
“My call to the community is let us stop playing politics and concentrate on development.”
Fr Lambe urged the Church to get involved in community projects to enhance livelihoods.
During the tour, Fr Lambe was surprised that despite being in Ndola for over 12 years, he was not aware about the infrastructure development at Kawama Hospital, which has been built using CDF.
“Why can’t you tell us what you are doing, where is the CDF?” he said.
Fr Lambe challenged people not to be theorists, but be proactive on issues that pertain to life and human development.
He said many CDF projects in the country such as maternity wards will benefit the majority in communities, hence the need to ensure there is collective participation in issues of national development.
Credit: Zambia Daily Mail
