Governance expert and human rights advocate, Wesley Miyanda, has called on local councils across the country, to emulate Mambwe and Mpika Town Councils, which have resolved to take legal action against defaulters of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) loans.
In Mpika, the Town Council has taken 32 different groups to court for failing to repay loans they obtained under the 2022 CDF empowerment program.
Mr. Miyanda said it is regrettable that funds meant to empower youth and women, through a revolving loan scheme, are being tied up by beneficiaries who have failed to meet their repayment obligations.
“It is unbelievable that out of the total K7,450,270 disbursed as loans to beneficiaries, with an expected total recovery of K8,656,571.00 including interest, only K887,454 has been recovered from just two beneficiaries as of April 2025 in Mambwe District,” said Mr. Miyanda in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
He commended Mambwe and Mpika Town Councils for setting a strong precedent by taking legal action to ensure full recovery of the funds so that more citizens, especially vulnerable groups, can benefit.
Mr. Miyanda has since urged other councils across the country to be proactive and follow the example of Mambwe and Mpika, ensuring that every individual or group that benefited from CDF loans fulfills their repayment obligations.
Angel Kasabo
