North-Western Province’s CDF Revolution: A Five‑Year Chronicle of Growth, Empowerment, and Lasting Impact (2021–2026)
Introduction
The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has emerged as the most powerful engine for grassroots transformation in Zambia’s North‑Western Province. What began as a modest allocation of K1.6 million per constituency in 2021 has evolved into a transformative development force, culminating in a landmark K40 million per constituency in 2026. This remarkable 2,400% increase has propelled the region – from the mining hub of Solwezi to the remote border districts of Mwinilunga and Chavuma – to actively construct modern health facilities, classrooms, roads, and launch thousands of economic empowerment initiatives.
North‑Western Province has become a showcase of how decentralised funding, community‑driven decision‑making, and political will can deliver tangible, life‑changing results. This article chronicles the key successes, amounts spent, and the districts transformed between 2021 and 2026, while also highlighting the ambitious projects currently underway.
The Funding Surge: From Millions to Billions
The government’s decision to drastically increase CDF allocations has fundamentally transformed North‑Western Province’s development landscape. Across Zambia, the annual allocation per constituency has risen steadily: K25.7 million in 2022, K28.3 million in 2023, K30.6 million in 2024, K36.1 million in 2025, and K40 million in 2026. North‑Western Province’s districts – Solwezi, Mwinilunga, Zambezi, Kabompo, Kasempa, Manyinga, Chavuma, Kalumbila, Mushindamo, Mufumbwe and Ikelenge – have all benefited from this unprecedented financial injection.
The province recorded the highest CDF utilisation rate in the country during the first quarter of 2025, reaching 24%, compared to the national average of just 3.6%. In total, the government has released K6.2 billion nationwide for local development solutions.
Completed Projects: Transforming Communities Across North‑Western Province
The impact of the increased funding is most visible in the completed projects that now dot the province. Across every district, communities are celebrating new infrastructure that was once only a dream.
Solwezi District: Healthcare, Education, and Economic Empowerment
Solwezi District has emerged as a regional model for CDF utilisation. Solwezi Central Constituency has procured and distributed 3,576 double‑seater desks to 61 schools, including areas such as Kyalalankuba, Kandemba, Kimiteto, Mayonde, and Mashimpi. A total of 3,446 desks were procured using part of the 2023 CDF allocation (K2,984,800.00) and a further 130 desks under the 2024 CDF (K130,000).
In 2025, five major CDF projects were commissioned in Solwezi Central Constituency: a 1×3 classroom block at St Francis Secondary Boarding School, maternity wings at Kapijimpanga and Kakombe Rural Health Centres, a maternity wing at Mushitala Clinic, and the first‑ever clinic in Kandakanda area.
On the economic front, 56 cooperatives in Solwezi Central received empowerment loans worth K2,554,900 under the 2025 CDF, selected from 78 approved cooperatives across the constituency’s 12 wards. Additionally, 51 cooperatives received 2024 CDF empowerment loans.
Mushindamo District: Solar‑Powered Water Systems and 100% CDF Utilisation
Mushindamo District has achieved a 100% CDF utilisation rate for 2025, demonstrating strong commitment to project implementation. The district constructed five solar‑powered mini‑water systems under the 2024 CDF disaster component at a total cost of K656,676. The systems were installed at Kabisapi Market (Mulonga Ward), Mikambo Primary School (Kilumba Ward), Kansefu Primary School (Kilumba Ward), Kibombomene Primary School (Kalilele Ward), and Kasapa Secondary School (Kalilele Ward).
Since 2022, Solwezi East Constituency (Mushindamo) has disbursed K8,913,400 in CDF grants to community‑driven projects. The district’s loan repayment currently stands at 50%, a discipline in management that has been commended as a model for other districts to emulate.
Kabompo District: Agriculture, Empowerment, and Infrastructure
Kabompo District has been recognised by the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) for transparent and effective CDF implementation. The district disbursed over K6 million in CDF loans and empowerment grants – K4,654,876.00 in loans to 28 cooperatives and K2,170,000.00 in grants to 59 cooperatives. Additional infrastructure delivered includes a police vehicle, 18 hammer mills, one shelling machine, and 1,554 school desks.
In Mumbezhi, Muvambo Cooperative Society used a K40,000 CDF empowerment grant received at the end of 2024 to start a fish‑farming project. From one pond, the cooperative expanded to six ponds within months, supplying communities that previously depended on fish transported from Solwezi. In October alone, fish sales from two ponds totalled K12,000.
A K793,000 water supply project was launched in Kabompo in 2025, expanding water networks in Chikata, Farm Training Centre, INDECO and M8 townships.
Zambezi District: Markets, Water, and Empowerment Grants
Zambezi District has completed several notable projects, including the Zambezi Market Shelter, Zambezi Market Ablution Block, Kawama Ablution Facility, and three water reticulation systems (boreholes) in Bwacha Constituency.
In Zambezi West Constituency, 140 organised groups and cooperatives received a collective financial boost of K2,491,290.41 under the 2024 CDF empowerment grants. A K564,800 Phase One water supply project is constructing a new water supply line from New Market Compound to Masumpu Village, which will add 100 new customers and benefit approximately 600 people.
Manyinga District: First‑Ever Boarding Secondary School
Manyinga District has witnessed a significant milestone with the construction of the Thompson Akatoka Boarding Secondary School – the first‑ever boarding secondary school in the district – funded by the enhanced CDF. The district has also completed a 10‑kilometre water connectivity project in the New Boma area, benefiting over 760 plots.
The CDF has facilitated the construction of several classroom blocks and health posts, significantly improving access to education and healthcare. Local resident Grace Mushiko expressed her gratitude, saying, “The new school has made it easier for our children to learn without travelling long distances”.
Kalumbila District: 44‑Kilometre Road and Maternity Annex
Kalumbila District has broken ground on the 44‑kilometre Mukumbi‑Kalengelenge Road in Mukumbi Ward, funded by the CDF. This landmark project will significantly enhance rural connectivity, stimulate trade, and facilitate access to education and healthcare services.
The district also commissioned a new maternity annex and a 1×2 classroom block at Lubinga Primary School, valued at over K1.5 million. Kalumbila Town Council Chairperson Shadrick Munjunga called on expectant mothers to use the newly commissioned facility, stating, “It is the wish of the government that no woman should die while giving life”.
Mwinilunga District: K2.7 Million in Loans and Grants
Mwinilunga District disbursed over K2.7 million to 53 loan and grant beneficiaries under the 2023 CDF allocation – K1,888,000 as loans to 23 cooperatives, clubs, and small businesses, and K871,000 as grants to 30 groups. The district also successfully implemented a K1.2 million CDF‑funded water project in collaboration with the North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (NWWSSCL).
Chavuma District: First‑Ever Police Post and Multiple Classroom Blocks
Chavuma District is set to receive its first‑ever police post and house in Nyathanda Ward, about 90 kilometres from the Civic Centre, significantly enhancing security and public service delivery in the area.
Among the projects monitored by the North‑Western Provincial Permanent Secretary are: a 1×2 classroom block at Lingelegende Primary School, a 1×3 classroom block at Chiyeke Primary School, a 1×2 classroom block at Kakhoma Primary School, a 1×2 classroom block at Kakhoma East Primary School, a 1×2 classroom block at Kahemba Community School, and a maternity wing at Kakhoma Health Post. The New Dawn Government Youth Club of Sewe‑Mungole Ward, a beneficiary of youth empowerment grants, has supplied 75 desks to the local authority.
Economic Empowerment: Grants, Loans, and Skills Development Across the Province
Beyond infrastructure, the CDF has been a catalyst for economic empowerment and skills development across North‑Western Province. In 2026, the government approved and disbursed 694 bursaries to students in North‑Western Province through the CDF skills development and secondary boarding school allocation.
Nationwide, more than 63,388 grant beneficiaries from community groups, women’s cooperatives, and youth initiatives have been supported, and loans have been disbursed to 20,021 beneficiaries. A staggering 130,627 secondary school bursaries have been awarded, with near‑perfect gender parity (66,620 male and 64,007 female students), and 195,422 Zambians have benefited from skills development programmes.
Ongoing Projects: Building on Momentum
Even as communities celebrate completed projects, the pipeline for 2025 and 2026 is robust. Many projects are either under construction or in advanced planning stages.
- Solwezi District: The government has released the 2026 CDF funds for all three constituencies in Solwezi district, with Solwezi Town Clerk Jim Zya confirming receipt. Solwezi Central Constituency has approved 22 cooperatives for empowerment loans, with procedural requirements being finalised.
- Mushindamo District: Following the successful commissioning of five solar‑powered water systems, the district continues to implement CDF projects with 100% utilisation targets. 63 clubs and cooperatives have been trained in financial literacy and fire prevention to enhance their ability to effectively use CDF grants.
- Kabompo District: The K793,000 water supply project is currently under implementation, expanding water networks in multiple townships. The PDU continues to monitor progress to ensure long‑term impact.
- Zambezi District: The Phase One water supply line from New Market Compound to Masumpu Village is under construction, with Phase Two planned for future CDF allocations. The remaining stretch of the Zambezi Main Drainage (approximately 400 metres) has been allocated funds under the 2025 CDF to complete the project.
- Kalumbila District: The 44‑kilometre Mukumbi‑Kalengelenge Road is under construction, with the Council reaffirming its commitment to delivering quality infrastructure development.
- Chavuma District: The first‑ever police post and house in Nyathanda Ward is under construction, and the Provincial Local Government Office continues to monitor CDF projects across all wards.
- Manyinga District: The Thompson Akatoka Boarding Secondary School is making significant progress, with the Council committed to transparency and accountability in CDF management. The Council Chairperson has assured constituents, “We are committed to ensuring that every kwacha of the CDF is utilised wisely and effectively”.
- Mwinilunga District: The district continues to accept 2025 CDF applications for community projects, secondary boarding school bursaries, and skills development bursaries for youths.
Challenges and the Path Forward
Despite the overwhelming successes, the CDF implementation has faced challenges. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has reported low utilisation in some provinces, though North‑Western Province recorded the highest utilisation rate at 24% in the first quarter of 2025. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Gift Sialubalo has directed that challenges faced by some local authorities be isolated and thoroughly probed, enabling struggling councils to learn from best practices demonstrated by districts such as Mushindamo.
The government has also warned against the misuse of CDF funds. North‑Western Province Minister Robert Lihefu, speaking to recipients of CDF empowerment grants for women and youths in Manyinga Constituency, emphasised the importance of utilising the funds for their intended purposes. Loan repayment remains a concern, with some districts experiencing default rates that undermine the sustainability of the empowerment component.
Conclusion
From 2021 to 2026, the Constituency Development Fund has rewritten the development story of North‑Western Province. What was once a symbolic fund has become a practical tool for eradicating classroom shortages, bringing clean water to villages, equipping clinics with modern maternity wings, constructing first‑ever boarding secondary schools and police posts, and empowering thousands of entrepreneurs with loans and grants.
The evidence is clear: across Solwezi, Mushindamo, Kabompo, Zambezi, Manyinga, Kalumbila, Mwinilunga, Chavuma, and beyond, the CDF has delivered. As Mushindamo’s Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Alex Katakwe declared during the commissioning of five solar‑powered water systems, “This Commissioning today is more than just turning on taps – it is a demonstration of what public resources can achieve when utilised well”. With continued commitment to transparency, execution, and community participation, the next five years promise even greater transformation for the people of North‑Western Province.
Summary Table: Key CDF Investments in North‑Western Province (2022–2026)
| District | Key Investments | Amount (K) |
| Solwezi | 3,576 desks (61 schools), 5 healthcare/education projects, 56 coop loans, 51 coop loans | 2,984,800 (desks 2023) + 130,000 (2024) + 2,554,900 (2025 loans) |
| Mushindamo | 5 solar‑powered water systems, K8.9M in grants (2022–25), 100% utilisation (2025) | 656,676 + 8,913,400 |
| Kabompo | 28 coop loans, 59 coop grants, police vehicle, 18 hammer mills, 1,554 desks, water project, fish farming | 4,654,876 + 2,170,000 + 793,000 |
| Zambezi | Market shelter, ablution block, 3 water systems, 140 groups empowered, water supply line | 2,491,290 (grants) + 564,800 (Phase One) |
| Manyinga | First‑ever boarding secondary school, 10‑km water connectivity (760+ plots) | 715,000 (2024 water) |
| Kalumbila | 44‑km Mukumbi‑Kalengelenge Road, maternity annex + classroom block | 1,500,000+ |
| Mwinilunga | 23 loans, 30 grants, water project | 1,888,000 + 871,000 + 1,200,000 |
| Chavuma | First‑ever police post, 6 classroom blocks, maternity wing | Multiple |