By NATION REPORTER
THE UPND has demanded that a lifestyle audit for all local authorities’ Constituency Development Fund (CDF) custodians across the country because most of them have suddenly become rich in a short period of time.
Beene Hachoombwa, the UPND presidential campaign team member said the CDF was meant to change the welfare of ordinary Zambians but suddenly the custodians of CDF had become affluent through what he termed pocketing of the funds.
In an interview, Mr Hachoombwa stated that the law enforcement agencies should take keen interest in the abuse of the CDF so that those found wanting could account for their sudden wealth.
He said avoiding the lifestyle audit for the custodians of CDF would only encourage more thieving and abuse of the funds meant to benefit the poor in communities.
President Hakainde Hichilema has on countless times boasted that he had managed to take the money from what he terms the Lusaka thieves to the people in rural areas but revelations by Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane are to the effect that the CDF is being abused and had demanded for a national wide audit of the funds.
“By undertaking the lifestyle audit well be able to know whether the money was stolen or not. It is unfortunate that the money is going in some people’s pockets instead of being used for the intended purpose,” Mr Hachoombwa said.
“The UPND constitution talks about lifestyle audit and it is important that this is implemented so that we do things as we promised the people of Zambia. Why should certain people benefit from the CDF when the ordinary Zambians who are eligible for these funds are suffering? Something need to be done as soon as possible,” he said.
He said that, it would be prudent that stiff punishment was meted on those found wanting because they were nothing but thieves who did not mean well for the country.
“When some people are jailed it will make the custodians to be responsible enough, this is tax payers money which need to be used appropriately,” Mr Hachoombwa said.
