Transparency Intn’l reveals systemic corruption, political interference in CDF administration

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) latest report has revealed alleged corruption and political interference in the administration of Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Reading the findings of the “Third Party Monitoring Report on the CDF in Zambia” in Ndola on Friday, TIZ Copperbelt Coordinator, Mike Mushanga, said corruption and misappropriation of CDF were at 18.5 percent.

Mushanga was worried that only 48 percent of the respondents were willing to report corruption while 52 percent refused to speak relevant authorities for action.

He urged stakeholders to always feel free to report corruption cases to relevant authorities to restore integrity.

“We discovered corruption risks in the process and procedures especially with the increase in the budget allocation, so this increase in CDF poses a challenge of corruption risks,” he said.

Mushanga observed that political interference had been supported by the observations that half of the committee were appointed by lawmakers and local councilors.

“MPs and councilors have too much authority; even civil society and the church were all nominated by MPs and councilors without consultation,” he said.

The report also observed that CDF committees were not paid thereby making them vulnerable to corruption hence the need to deal with political interference.

It also observed that there seemed to be limited participation in the monitoring of CDF projects pointing to the fact that 87 percent were excluded from monitoring trips.

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