CABINET has approved, in principle, the introduction in Parliament of Constituency Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2022, to repeal and replace the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Act number 11 of 2018.
Cabinet had observed that the CDF Act, enacted in 2018, did not adequately provide for the manner of decentralisation as envisaged by the Government and that there was need to strengthen the application, disbursement and management of the fund.
Chief Government Spokesperson Chushi Kasanda said the ‘New Dawn’ Government had prioritised decentralisation as a major driver for attaining broad-based development; reducing poverty; and enhancing job creation through citizen engagement offence. and participation at the local level.
Ms Kasanda, who is Information and Media Minister, said in a statement yesterday that the approval of the Bill was done during the 24th Cabinet Meeting, which President Hichilema chaired at State House on Friday last week.
Ms Kasanda said with the massive increase of the CDF, it was necessary that there is no impediment in the provision of services to the people and also ensure that development is delivered in the most-quicker manner.
“The amendment of the existing law, therefore, will also facilitate increased absorption of the CDF countrywide,” Ms Kasanda said.
Cabinet also approved, for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting, the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and that the object was to amend the current Penal Code to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment and repeal the defamation of the President offence.
“However, from the time of its enactment, the Penal Code has never been reviewed and it contains archaic provisions including the death penalty and the offence of defamation of the President,” she said.
Cabinet approved the publication and introduction in Parliament, the Zambia Institute of Banking and Financial Services Bill, 2022 and the Securities (Amendment) Bill, 2022
Ms Kasanda said Cabinet also approved the Mineral Resources Development Policy and its 2022-2026 Implementation Plan, the Integrated Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining and Marketing Development Model and the Fourth Cycle National Report on the Universal Periodic Review.
