Posted By Own Staff Saturday, 06 March 2010 01:25

Bulawayo councillors have expressed concern over the establishment of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for Members of the House of Assembly, which they say is creating conflict of interest between MPs and local authorities.
The CDF was introduced by Finance Minister Tendai Biti in the 2010 National Budget where he allocated US$50 000 per constituency in a bid to improve livelihoods and infrastructure in the constituencies.

The councillors complained that MPs were now replacing local authorities as planning authorities, a situation which could result in conflict in the prioritisation and implementation of projects.

In an interview, the Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary affairs, Eric Matinenga, however, said the funds had not yet been disbursed; hence there was no need for the conflict.
“The Minister of Finance has not yet disbursed the funds yet, once that is done, my ministry will make sure that proper frameworks are put in place to avoid the current conflict taking place,” he said.

Minister Matinenga added that the Bill for the CDF was yet to be discussed and crafted, after which it would be sent to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation and Cabinet for approval before it could be submitted to Parliament.

A councillor who requested anonymity, stating that the issue was sensitive said the issue was not officially discussed with them.
“We only got to hear about the issue after it was announced, but we expected that it would be officially communicated to us since councillors and MPs work together in the various constituencies,” he said.

The councillor went on to say that they were also entitled to the funds.
“I would like to believe that as councillors we are also entitled to those funds, or if not, a similar facility should be put in place for us because we also have wards to improve,” said the councillor.

The money is supposed to be used for borehole drilling, repair of schools and clinics, purchase of generators, in accordance with an annual development plan drawn up by a committee of elected councillors chaired by the local MP.

South Africa , Botswana and Namibia are among countries in the Southern African region which run similar funds.