Lumezi Council Awards K5 Million Under 2024 CDF Empowerment Loans, Grants

Lumezi Town Council says it has awarded over K5 million to 83 beneficiaries under the 2024 Constituency Development Fund CDF loans and grant empowerment funds in Lumezi Constituency.
Council Assistant Public Relations Officer, Irvin Muyumbwa said the Local Authority has allocated K5,815,900 which will benefit 62 successful groups under grants amounting to K2,322,500 while 21 applicants are beneficiaries of the loans at a sum total of K3,492,400.

He stated that the successful applicants of the 2024 CDF empowerment comprise cooperatives and individual companies who will venture into various businesses ranging from poultry, pigs and goat rearing, hardware and establishing a radio station among others.

And Mr. Muyumbwa revealed that the Council has also been granted authority by Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to procure equipment, agricultural and other farming implements on behalf of 38 CDF grant beneficiary groups at a cost of K1,507,500.

“This authority follows monitoring reports which reviewed that CDF grant empowerment beneficiaries were not using acquired funds for the intended purposes as per approved projects.”

“The 2024 beneficiaries will therefore be required to source suppliers of choice by way of collecting up to three quotations which will be submitted to the Council. The Local Authority will then instruct the bank to directly pay suppliers for the purchase of the equipment and agricultural inputs,” Mr. Muyumbwa stated.
Meanwhile, Lumezi District Commissioner Lufeyo Ngoma cautioned beneficiaries against externalizing the funds to other districts, warning that failure to repay the CDF loans in accordance with the guidelines will land them into trouble with authorities.

Speaking during a financial literacy orientation meeting with all the 2024 CDF loan applicants with particular emphasis on loan repayment terms and conditions, Mr. Ngoma said it is government’s desire to see to it that beneficiaries of CDF empowerment will commit to prudent use of the funds so as to uplift their livelihoods and be able to show that these monies are being put to good use in order to encourage increased uptake of the funds in Lumezi.

“Let us show other people that proceeds of CDF empowerment are being put to good use. You know that failure to pay back these monies can land you into trouble, so it is our sincere hope that as you get this money, you commit yourself to good use of it so that your lives will change” Mr. Ngoma said.
Speaking at the same event, Lumezi District Council Chairperson Oliver Mwale said the district envisions economic growth and job creation which partly depends on the CDF empowerment beneficiaries’ capacity growth which in the long run would also increase the Local Authority’s revenue base.

“Government’s intention is to open up industries through various empowerment initiatives. Come 2026, Lumezi envisions individuals becoming industrious and those in poultry production should build their capacity to supply chickens in thousands. Lumezi envisions economic growth and job creation from the CDF empowerment beneficiaries” Mr. Mwale said.

Introduced as a new component in 2022, the Constituency Development Fund CDF loans and grant empowerment’s primary objective is to empower communities and constituencies through financial support that promotes inclusive economic growth and supporting entrepreneurship among residents.