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Two Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have questioned the justification for increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) when local authorities in the 156 constituencies continue to struggle with full absorption of funds and reports of mismanagement.
Under the 2026 national budget, government had announced an increment in CDF from the current K36.1 million to K40 million per constituency.
Zambia Council for Social Development Executive Director, Leah Mitaba, told Zambia Monitor in an interview that while the increase reflected government’s commitment to the decentralisation agenda, challenges persisted in actual delivery at constituency level.
Mitaba noted that each year CDF allocations had risen, yet problems such as unpaid loans, stalled or poor-quality infrastructure projects, and delayed procurement processes remained unaddressed by central government.
“Without stronger accountability and capacity at the local level, more money does not automatically mean better schools, health services, or real empowerment for communities,” Mitaba stated.
She emphasised the importance of strengthening capacity within local authorities, who were the main implementers of constituency-level projects.
Similarly, Gideon Musonda, Executive Director of the Advocates for Democratic Governance Foundation, echoed Mitaba’s sentiments, arguing that the additional funds could have been redirected to other priority sectors.
“We feel that it was not prudent to make an increment when the local authorities have issues in terms of utilising the allocated funds. What would have been prudent is to leave it at that level of K36.1 million,” Musonda said.
He urged government to address the challenges local authorities face in implementing and utilising CDF resources before increasing the allocation.
Musonda further suggested that funds should instead be channelled into sectors such as agriculture and energy, which require urgent support due to the effects of climate change.
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