Kabwe’s K890,000 Mourner’s Shelter Highlights Larger Issues in Zambia’s CDF-funded Projects

By Ennety Munshya

The Constituency Development Fund (CDF)-funded mourner’s shelter at Kabwe central hospital, constructed at a cost of approximately K890,000, has been left unattended, leading to public vandalism. This project is just one example of several CDF initiatives that are going to waste due to poor planning.

The project, completed by Fungala Investment in November 2023, is among many CDF initiatives across Zambia that face similar issues, including delays, poor execution, and corruption.

Despite increased CDF allocations, a lack of planning and security has left infrastructure vulnerable to damage. Authorities plan to allocate additional funds to complete the shelter, but the situation raises broader concerns about the management and oversight of CDF projects.

The contractor completed the project and handed it over to the Kabwe municipal council in November 2023. However, authorities in Kabwe say the contract with the company was terminated because the contractor delayed and did not complete the works as expected.

In 2022, over K17.5 million (K17, 558,031) was allocated for community projects in Kabwe Central onstituency alone.

The government increased the CDF allocation for 2024 to K30.6 million per constituency, up from the previous K28.3 million.

These funds are used for community projects, youth, women and community empowerment, and secondary boarding and skills development bursaries.

Despite the increased CDF allocation, many constituencies across the country have failed to effectively use these resources, with instances of corruption reported in some cases.

For example, the auditor general’s report on the CDF for the financial year ending 31^st December 2022 highlights several issues affecting CDF implementation.

These include delays in executing approved projects, failure to implement approved projects, and the execution of unapproved projects. Other irregularities include the improper awarding of contracts, failure to sign formal contracts, and wasteful expenditure.

Community projects aim to benefit wider communities in respective wards by addressing challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, including water and sanitation points, schools, health facilities, police posts, feeder roads, and market shelters.

At the project site, the partially completed building is being vandalised, with most window panes smashed and doors, electrical wiring, and fittings removed.

The mothers’ shelter is built right outside the fence of Kabwe central hospital, leaving it vulnerable to vandals as there is no security provided at the building.

Such negligence raises questions about the government’s commitment to safeguarding investments and ensuring that the benefits of costly projects are not lost to vandalism.

Kabwe Central Member of Parliament, Chrizoster Halwiindi Phiri, told MakanDay that a tender is currently open for contractors to bid on the final phase of the project, which includes electrical wiring, an ablution block, building a perimeter wall fence, and drilling a borehole.

She disclosed that an additional K1.8 million from the 2023 CDF has been allocated to the project.

Mrs. Phiri emphasised that it is the responsibility of the council to supervise projects and provide security to safeguard the property.

She also called on technocrats from the local authority to ensure that every aspect of a project is properly costed to guarantee its completion, and that the released funds cover all necessary expenses.

According to information obtained by MakanDay, essential aspects of the project, such as the construction of the wall fence, lighting, and water facilities, were initially excluded. Additional funding was subsequently released to complete these components.

According to the Patent and Company Registration Agency (Pacra), Fungala Investments Limited, a company registered in 2016, is owned by four Zambians: Charles Sikazwe, Nancy Nanyangwe Katongo, Mark Chulu, and Mabanda Chansa.

The company’s business address is registered at plot no. 18893, Tokyo way, new Kasama, Lusaka.

One of the company’s directors, Mark Chulu, told MakanDay that the work was completed according to the agreed scope and that the project was handed over to the local authority. He added that delays in completing the project were due to continuous changes requested by the local authority, which were beyond the original scope of work.

Mr. Chulu emphasised that Fungala Investments’ contract was not terminated, as the company successfully completed the work and received all payments owed to them.

Kabwe resident Luckson Mfula revealed that he opposed the decision to construct the shelter outside the hospital premises due to security concerns.

He told MakanDay that the vandalism of the newly built infrastructure clearly illustrates how government resources can go to waste due to negligence by those responsible for maintaining public property.

The government is aware of the project. Nicholas Phiri, permanent secretary of technical services at the ministry of local government and rural development, advised that councils should make proper plans for CDF projects to ensure the infrastructure can be used once completed.

He emphasised that inadequate planning undermines the purpose of constructing infrastructure if it lacks essential amenities.

Mr. Phiri said the ministry has observed that new projects not yet handed over to user departments are often neglected, particularly in terms of security when contractors have demobilised.

He also called for the removal of political influence from CDF implementation, as it undermines the effectiveness of government programmes.

Ennety is an investigative journalist based in Kabwe.