PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has directed all councils across the country to work on feeder roads as soon as the rainy season is done stating that he will be going round next year to monitor developmental projects for himself so as to avoid mismanagement of resources or excuses from the council.
President Hichilema revealed that government has allocated K3 million per constituency meant for the procurement of fuel and oil for the sole purpose of grading feeder roads.
He said despite the drought, government had bought road maintenance equipment which ought to be utilised without fail.
“Please councils, CDF committes, all those councils that have bought road maintenance equipment, you were not using this equipment properly in the previous years. In the 2025 budget despite the challenges, we have allocated K3 million per constituency to buy fuel and oil and so by the time we are in April, May, I want to see grading of feeder roads across the country because we have provided the money, there’s no excuse. The money is there.”
“Local Government Minister (Gary Nkombo), I have said it publicly here, the president who is the chief servant of the people has directed that all councils must grade roads across the country, from April, May, once the rains are over, all the feeder roads must be graded because we have allocated money. I will be going round next year myself to go and see that the roads are being done, are being graded that is what I’m going to do,” said President Hichilema.
The Head of State also encouraged citizens to make use of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in order to develop their communities.
“CDF has been increasssd so that you may utilise it. That money is for the community. Use it for what you want. CDF is your money, it’s a councilor’s money, it’s not an Member of Parliament’s money, it’s not a minister’s money , it’s not a DC’s money, it’s your money and must be utilised in the areas you deem fit especially in the education and health infrastructure and water,” he advised.
The President said this during the 2024 Lwiindi Bagande Traditional Ceremony of the Tonga people of Siavonga District yesterday.
The ceremony saw over 30 chiefs from different chiefdoms across the country celebrating with Chief Simamba the 11th of the Tonga people of Siavonga.
President Hichilema hailed the chiefs for their unwavering support for each other in driving the agenda of uniting the country.
The Head of State urged Zambians to acknowledge the importance of heritage and culture.
And I want to encourage chiefs to continue promoting culture and heritage. I want to encourage we who believe that by going to town, by going to school we are detached from our heritage that’s wrong. Those who say ceremonies are primitive, what do you mean it’s primitive, you are primitive yourself. History is important to us,” said President Hichilema.
And Chief Simamba the 11th praised the President for being available to almost all the ceremonies once called upon revealing that President Hichilema was the first ever sitting President to grace the Lwiindi Bagande ceremony.
“We appreciate the role you are playing as the father of the nation, we ask that you may continue with the same spirit,” said Chief Simamba.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, December 8, 2024
