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The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has accused the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) of turning the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Cash for Work programmes into a political cash cow for its cadres.
FDD Chairperson for International Relations, Anthony Chibuye, claimed the ruling party was using these initiatives to distribute money to party loyalists under the guise of development support.
“It is difficult to conceive how the UPND hopes to recover CDF loans when it is fully aware that these loans, along with the Cash for Work programme, have been used as a method of giving cadres free money,” Chibuye said in a statement issued Tuesday.
He criticised Local Government and Rural Development Minister Gift Sialubalo’s recent call for beneficiaries to repay CDF loans, calling it “highly misplaced” in light of the alleged abuse of the funds.
Chibuye alleged that loans were being awarded to UPND officials’ relatives, girlfriends, and boyfriends, and announced that FDD would initiate a thorough audit to determine the extent of mismanagement under the UPND administration.
While visiting Mpika District in Muchinga Province, Sialubalo had reminded beneficiaries that CDF empowerment loans were not grants, but revolving funds meant to support local economic development and must be repaid in full.
Meanwhile, Chibuye also weighed in on recent revelations by the United States Ambassador that many pharmacies and chemists were stocked with stolen government medicines.
“This revelation is a serious indictment on the health sector and the nation at large. The period under investigation clearly demonstrates that the UPND is not as clean as it wants to portray itself,” he said.
He appealed to the U.S. government to reconsider its suspension of aid, saying such support had brought hope to millions of Zambians.
“But as said before, we appeal to the U.S. government to continue cooperating for the common interest of both our peoples, through a diplomatic solution to the situation,” Chibuye added.
He further noted that Zambia’s health sector remained in urgent need of increased funding, stating that current budget allocations were insufficient to meet national needs.
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