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United Party for National Development (UPND) Northern province Information and Publicity Secretary Edward Musonda has condemned the decision by councils to divert Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to buy graders and other equipment in the nation.
In a press statement to ZANIS in Kasama on June 1st, Mr Musonda said the diversion is wrong and an attack on government’s decentralization policy.
He said the move made by some local authorities in the nation should stop as the CDF funds are meant to supplement developmental programmes that are not debated by parliament.
Mr Musonda noted that for councils to temper with the funds is tantamount to misapplication of tax payers money which should not be allowed.
He pointed out that councils obtain grants and collect revenue from levies and rates and grabbing funds from constituencies which have no sources of income is stealing development from poor people.
The UPND Information Publicity Secretary said the grabbing of CDF funds can also be described as expanding gap of poverty between the privileged councils and the un privileged poor people in constituencies.
Mr Musonda also said CDF funds were created to help undertakings within constituencies to supplement the mainstreaming funding on projects in rural areas and it is prudent that councils spend such funds for intended projects than diverting to other obligations of the councils.
He added that councils should find money to buy graders and road equipment than to use CDF funds.
