LOCAL Government and Rural Development Minister Gift Sialubalo has urged councils to deliberately engage local contractors when awarding Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects.
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Speaking during his tour of CDF projects in Eastern Province, Sialubalo said it was important that the funds benefit communities directly, instead of being taken away by outsiders.
He said most councils had a tendency of hiring contractors from outside their districts, particularly Lusaka, often at the expense of local businesses.
“We need to be deliberate when getting people… Let’s get our own local people. We don’t want you to get contractors from Lusaka. CDF must sit in constituencies,” he said.
The minister noted that some external contractors lacked the capacity to handle projects effectively, yet they were still awarded contracts while leaving local businesses sidelined.
“You like saying that those from your districts lack capacity but even those foreigners coming from Lusaka, they lacked capacity but somebody, you, yourselves gave them capacity. Since money is shared equally, money should be shared within the family. And when I say family, I mean the district,” explained Sialubalo.
The Minister also urged council chairpersons to collaborate closely with members of parliament in the selection of CDF projects to be worked on.
He said MPs play a critical role in representing communities and when resources come, they should be told, so that they help in selecting the projects that people want.
The minister stressed that this collaboration was essential to ensure that CDF projects are executed efficiently and deliver real benefits to local communities.
“MPs are the ones who face the people daily. They come to our offices and speak for the people. It’s important that when resources come, you let them know. You can compete during elections, but when you form government, you work as a team,” said Sialubalo.
He also reminded councils that fair and transparent management of resources would not only strengthen governance but also build trust between local authorities and residents.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, September 6, 2025
