… the Citizens First leader says he is aware of the abuse of CDF and once he forms government, those that have been abusing it, will be made to account for it
CITIZENS First (CF) president Harry Kalaba has issued a strong warning to the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), stating that once his party forms government next year, all those who have been abusing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) will be held accountable.
Speaking during a radio programme on KNC Radio yesterday, Mr Kalaba said the current administration has failed to manage the CDF transparently and has turned it into a political tool.
“There is total abuse of authority in the management of CDF,” Mr Kalaba said. “When we come into government next year, we shall review CDF because the way it is supposed to work is different from the way the UPND is using it.”
He also stressed that leadership must be inclusive and non-partisan.“If you are a president, like the way I will be next year, it will mean that you are a president for all Zambians. Some of the people who voted for the President are not even CF members. When I am elected as a leader, I am President for all Zambians – including the UPND, even the PF and the NDC of Saboi Imboela – they will be our children. That’s the way leadership has to be,” he said.
Mr Kalaba accused the UPND of running a selective system that denies access to the CDF for those without political connections.“These ones we have today, they are selective. If you don’t have any position at constituency or district level, you will find difficulties in accessing CDF.
That is not the way government money works. That is abuse of office. We are going to review that,” Mr Kalaba said.
