Three arrested over CDF funds in Manyinga

Three members of the Constituency Development Fund Committee (CDC) in Manyinga district of North-Western Province have been arrested for allegedly diverting building materials meant for developmental projects in the area.

Manyinga district CDC chairperson, Steven Chinoya, has been arrested together with two other Constituency Development Fund Committee members, Francis Fotiya and Moses Kahyata, the latter who is also a PF councilor.

Kabombo District Council immediate-past chairperson, Morgan Sapichi, confirmed the arrest of the civic leaders, saying the trio is alleged to have diverted iron sheets, door frames and window frames among other building materials for their personal use.

Mr Sapichi said Mr Chinoya has also been arrested for allegedly opening bank accounts in other people’s names where misappropriated money was supposedly deposited.

In Kabompo, the Council Treasurer, Director of Works, a clerical officer in the treasury department and a school teacher of Mbwambo Primary School have also been arrested in connection with the 2013 CDF funds.

Mr Sapichi said the central government had approved and released funds for the construction of a 1X2 classroom block and toilets at Chipanda Primary School in Manyinga district, which was delinked from Kabompo district in 2012, but only toilets have been built so far.

He said a follow-up on the matter had revealed that the funds for the project were not in the Kabompo District Education Board Secretary’s (DEBS) account and even the area Member of Parliament, Dan Chingimbu, who is also Lands deputy Minister, was not aware of where the funds went.

Meanwhile, a local businessman, Kenny Ndumba, has appealed to government to put in place stringent measures that will help curb the misappropriation of CDF funds for 2014 and the years that follow.

Mr Ndumba, who recently donated an assortment of goods to St Kalemba Mission Hospital in Manyinga district, said it is disheartening that individuals have continued to benefit from the CDF when the community, which is in dire need, is suffering.