Over K8 million set aside for skills development in Chirundu District

Government has reserved more than K8 million under the 2022 and 2023 Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocations for skills development in Chirundu Constituency.

In 2022 the government injected a sum of K2,537,877 for 343 students to attain skills while in 2023, it spent K5 734,454 for 632 students to develop skills.

Chirundu Town Council Public Relations Officer, Nakubiana Shabongo, confirmed this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Shabongo said the beneficiaries for 2022 comprised of 267 males and 76 females, whereas the beneficiaries for 2023 had 529 males and 103 females.

She appealed to all those that were considered for sponsorship to fully utilise the opportunities the government had put in place to equip them with skills to ensure that they improve their lives.

“Over the years, majority of citizens have been acquiring education in order to have white collar jobs but today skills have proved that in order to survive you must have a skill,” Shabongo stated.

She advised all those having challenges with applying or understanding CDF guidelines to visit the Local Authority for guidance or assistance.

Shabongo stated that the government was currently providing opportunities such as skills development under CDF and President Hakainde Hichilema’s style of leadership and the government’s dedication had paved the way for the remarkable opportunity.

“Unsuccessful applications were left out on account of failing to meet the eligibility criteria provided in the CDF guidelines,” she said.

Shabongo urged all those that apply for CDF opportunities to ensure they acquainted themselves with the CDF guidelines provided in order to stand a chance.

Meanwhile, Shabongo revealed that government had financially supported 85 pupils under the CDF Secondary Boarding Schools Bursary component at a sum of K447, 675 for the year 2022 and 2023.

“The Chirundu CDF Committee successfully approved 15 applications for males and 23 females in 2022 while 23 males and 24 females were successfully awarded with bursaries in 2023,” she said.

Shabongo further disclosed that the CDF Committee allocated K181, 800 towards the boarding school bursary in 2022 and K265, 875 in 2023.

She called on more pupils to apply for boarding school bursary, noting that the applications had been very low.

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