Chilanga Town Council Chairperson, Champion Tembo says the local authority has acknowledged that there is a need for better roads in Chilanga district, with a road network of 650 kilometres of which only 150 kilometres are currently paved.
Mr Tembo says significant strides were made in 2024 by improving 107 kilometres of roads representing 20 percent of progress.
He notes that the local authority acknowledges that 80% still requires attention, and the council remains committed to addressing the challenge.
This is contained in a press release made available to ZANIS in Chilanga.
“Following the report by Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) concerning the utilisation of the 2023 Constituency Development Fund (CDF), I would like to clarify a few points. The Auditor General’s visit to our institution in January 2024 to review CDF utilisation reflected a specific moment in time, which may not encompass the ongoing efforts to improve our community. At the time of the Auditor General’s visit and the subsequent release of the report, the situation is different on the ground now,’’ he explained.
Mr Tembo explained that one of the challenges faced in 2023 such as the failing electronic procurement system and the complexities of migrating to a new system caused delays but these have since been sorted out through comprehensive training for contractors by equipping them with the skills needed to deliver on the shared vision of progress.
He stated that two roads namely; the Mpamba-Mano Road, which spans 27 kilometres has been fully funded by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Kacheta Road, which will be worked on this year by the Road Development Agency (RDA).
He further explained that the local authority is not solely reliant on external support but in partnership with RDA has allocated K 3.2 million from its own resources for crucial interventions to ease the burden on local residents.
“Today, residents can see tangible results from the 2023 CDF funding across various projects in our district. I assure the people of Chilanga that our Councillors, myself, the council, and the area Member of Parliament are committed to providing quality service. Transparency and accountability are foundational to our governance. We invite the public to engage with us and hold us accountable as we strive for a brighter future for Chilanga. Together, let’s transform our community,’’ he said.
