Chadiza Town Council yesterday convened a validation meeting to review and refine the newly revised Constituency Development Fund (CDF) guidelines. The meeting was held at Sankhani Lodge and drew participation from councillors, ward development committee members, council officers, and various stakeholders from across the district.
The session was chaired by the Council’s Director of Planning, Ms. Ansela M. Mulenga, who led the participants through a clause-by-clause reading of the draft guidelines, allowing for feedback, clarifications, and proposed amendments.
Among the key issues discussed was the definition of insurance under the CDF, with several councillors advocating that insurance for equipment procured under the fund should be handled under administrative costs. There was also a strong push to ensure that human-induced hazards are recognised under the definition of disaster.
On matters of education, two councillors proposed that boarding school fees under CDF support should remain unchanged to accommodate the financial realities of families in Chadiza, most of whom rely on seasonal farming.
In a spirited exchange, members of the Ward Development Committees (WDCs) expressed concern over the lack of incentives for their work, with many calling for the introduction of salaries or allowances. The suggestion received broad support from fellow committee members present.
The composition and accountability of the Constituency Development Fund Committee (CDFC) also came under scrutiny. A proposal was made for the CDFC to report to the full council before approving funding applications. The motion was put to a vote and passed by majority. Additionally, suggestions were made to increase the number of councillors in the committee and to ensure representation of persons with disabilities is filled by individuals living with disabilities themselves.
In response to concerns over loan management, proposals included introducing collateral for CDF loans and establishing penalties for defaulters. Director Legal advised that instead of collateral, the guidelines should provide for legal consequences, such as delayed payment penalties and prohibitions on changing businesses or leaving the constituency without clearance.
Other proposals included the need for field appraisals over desk appraisals, improved data collection on loan beneficiaries disaggregated by gender and disability status, and the inclusion of council chairpersons and mayors in CDFC operations.
The meeting concluded with consensus on several key revisions, which will be submitted for further consideration before the guidelines are finalised.