MUBANGA WARNS COUNCILS OVER CDF
(ZANIS) Small and Medium Enterprise Development Minister, ELIAS MUBANGA has cautioned local authorities not to politicize the identification and selection of beneficiaries of empowerment funds under the Constituency Development Fund -CDF.
Mr. MUBANGA says local authorities should ensure they follow the laid down procedures enshrined in the CDF guidelines as they select beneficiaries.
He says he wants the right people to benefit from the empowerment funds which government has provided.
Mr. MUBANGA says the UPND Administration has created a platform where every Zambian can benefit from the empowerment schemes.
He said this when he addressed scores of traders at Chambeshi market in Kasama and Mungwi market in Mungwi district.
The Minister also toured the Kasama Industrial Yard managed by the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission -CEEC- where he was informed of the challenges that SMEs are facing at the facility.
Mr. MUBANGA learnt that the facility is operating at 50 percent and that only 10 workshops out of the available 22 are operational.
He assured the people that government will soon appoint a board at CEEC that would help in the smooth running of the commission.
Mr MUBANGA also encouraged SMEs to consider occupying the vacant workshops at the industrial yard.
Meanwhile, Acting Kasama District Administrative Officer JOHN TERA affirmed that Kasama district has received the CDF for the first quarter for both Kasama Central and Lukashya Constituencies.
And Mungwi District Commissioner, MUMA MUSONDA encouraged