Paul Nyathi

Members of parliament who have previously asked government to provide thr constituency development funds in US Dollars have this year completely ignored applying for the fund from government.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday Speaker of the House Jacob Mudenda said 142 of the 210 parliamentarians had applied for the funding.

Below is his full statement in parliament.

Hon. Members, it has been brought to my attention that although we are now in the third quota of our Ninth Session, only 68 members have applied for the 2020 Constitutional Development Fund (CDF). Statistics show that 142 members have not applied for the year 2020; 67 Hon. Members did not apply for the 2019 allocations and 20 did not apply for the 2018 allocation.

I am aware that the money is not the right amount but surely it can be put to good use in the constituencies that you represent especially now during COVID-19, the period when schools and clinics are in need of PPEs, sanitiSers, extra chairs and desks.  I urge all Hon. Members who have not applied for their CDF allocation to do so as a matter of urgency.  May I request the Whips to assist in following up on the Hon. Members of their political parties.