Shiwang’andu, 26,08,2024, ZANIS— The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has repealed the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Act Number 11 of 2018 and replaced it with the CDF Act No. 1 of 2024.

The Local Government and Rural Development Ministry has since signed the commencement order bringing into effect the new Act.

This is contained in a letter written by Local Government Permanent Secretary In-charge of Technical Services, Nicholas Phiri addressed to all Chief Executive Officers in the local authority and made available to ZANIS today in Shiwang’andu district.

Mr Phiri has since reconstituted CDF committees to include new members as defined in the 2024 CDF Act.

The Permanent Secretary has emphasised on the need to take into consideration section 35 (2) of the CDF Act which allows old members to continue holding office for a period of three months effective August, 12, 2024.

He guided that after three months, all appointments to CDF committees will be done by provincial ministers in respective provinces as provided by the Act in section 4.

This is in a quest to enhance devolved functions of CDF activities from the national to the provincial level.

The Local Government Permanent Secretary has since guided that the current guidelines continue to be in effect until the new guidelines based on the new Act are finalised.

Mr Phiri has also advised that the re-constituted Constituency Development Fund Committees(CDFCs) will continue working until October 2024.

The new Act will include District Commissioners, non-governmental organisations working within the constituency, a community member and a youth representative subject to ratification by the area Member of Parliament and chiefs’ representatives.

ZANIS/