Southern 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 Southern 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 enduring decades of infrastructure deficits to actively constructing modern health facilities, classrooms, roads, and launching thousands of economic empowerment initiatives.
From the tourist capital of Livingstone to the agricultural heartlands of Mazabuka and the remote communities of Gwembe, Southern Province has become a showcase of how decentralized 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 Southern 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. Southern Province’s districts—Choma, Livingstone, Monze, Mazabuka, Kalomo, Choma, Kazungula, Namwala, Siavonga, Sinazongwe, Gwembe, Pemba, Zimba, and others—have all benefited from this unprecedented financial injection.
Completed Projects: Transforming Communities Across Southern 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.
Choma District: A Model of Comprehensive Development
Choma District has emerged as a regional model for CDF utilization. In Mbabala Constituency, 47 beneficiaries were awarded loans totaling K4,015,613.20 under the 2024 CDF, while 92 students graduated from Sajo Driving School with a 99% pass rate. The loans are set to boost various business ventures, including maize trading, chicken rearing, horticulture, metal fabrication, and irrigation. The 2024 loans prioritized projects like irrigation to address the national drought disaster and ensure sustainable development.
On the training front, the Mmabana Youth Club, awarded an empowerment grant of K20,000, has managed to train 30 youths in ICT, entrepreneurship, and financial discipline skills. Another loan beneficiary, Choma Home Fashions, received K50,000 to boost their grocery business, which has since expanded and is enjoying the benefits of CDF.
Livingstone District: Tourism Capital Transformed
Livingstone has witnessed a flurry of CDF‑funded projects. In May 2025, Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba commissioned four CDF projects worth K3,218,011, including the Livingstone Taxi Rank (K599,511.50), solar streetlights (K896,500) in Kariba Ward, an ablution block at Malota Community School (K472,000), and Phase II of the Botswana Drainage project (K1,250,000). Speaking at the event, Minister Sikumba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering development equitably, stating, “The CDF is meant for the people. We are bringing development closer to the communities.”
In 2025, Livingstone disbursed K7,626,806.00 under the CDF for secondary school and skills development bursaries. The council has set aside K6,898,184.79 for 2026 to cater for both skills development and secondary school bursaries.
Monze District: Restoring Dignity One Project at a Time
Monze District is quietly rewriting its development story—one ablution block, classroom, and water reticulation system at a time. On August 26, 2025, Hon. Jack Mwiimbu handed over a newly constructed ablution block and water reticulation system at Manungu Primary and Secondary School, built under the 2024 CDF community project component. “Girls no longer have to miss classes whenever they are attending,” says Lumuno Habanzu, a Form 1 pupil. “The boys are now eager to participate in sports after class because of the showers,” adds Dalisto Phiri, Grade 11.
The fund has delivered the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, laboratories, clinics, ablution blocks, staff houses, water reticulation systems, and even a police post. Women and youths have accessed empowerment grants to grow businesses and create income, while vulnerable children are supported through the secondary school bursary scheme.
Mazabuka District: 2025 Projects Well Underway
Mazabuka Central is driving a wave of development across the constituency. Key projects in progress include the construction of a staff house at Siyowi Primary School, completion of a standard kitchen/dining hall at Nanga Secondary School, construction of a classroom block at Asaka New Primary School, rehabilitation of Kaonga Primary School, construction of a girls’ dormitory at Mansangu Secondary School, construction of two staff houses at Kangila Primary School, and construction of a staff house at Magobbo Primary School.
Water and sanitation projects include mud drilling of eight boreholes equipped with handpumps in Siyowi Ward, drilling and equipping of boreholes in Lubombo Ward, and drilling and equipping of 15 handpumps across Mazabuka Central. Health sector improvements include the purchase of physiotherapy equipment, expansion of the maternity annex at Mazabuka General Hospital, and construction of a police post in Bennie Mwiinga Ward.
Kazungula District: Border Town Boom
Kazungula Town Council’s 2024 budget was approved at K77,269,342, a 28% increase from the previous year. Of this amount, K30,635,642 was allocated to the Constituency Development Fund. Capital projects earmarked for 2024 include the procurement of a Roller Compactor, construction of crossing points, maintenance of 30 kilometers of feeder roads, construction of 25 kilometers of township roads, and installation of 2.3 kilometers of street lights along the Kazungula–Livingstone Road.
Kazungula Town Council also appraised community projects including a 6‑unit mortuary at the district hospital, dip tanks, construction of staff houses for government officers in remote parts of Kazungula, and the building of classroom blocks.
Namwala District: Historic Palaces and Modern Infrastructure
Namwala District has celebrated several milestones. Hon. Herbert Mapani handed over four CDF projects funded under the 2022 and 2023 CDF allocations at a combined cost exceeding K2 million, including Kapili Community School (K565,190.88), a 3‑bedroom staff house at Shimunyumbwe Community School (K479,001.23), Mamvu OPD incinerator (K681,529.31), and Chibunze Health Post (K600,000).
The construction of Chief Mungaila’s palace has reached 95% completion, and Chief Muchila’s palace has been modernised through 2024 and 2025 CDF funds respectively. Namwala Town Council has also procured a set of earth‑moving equipment at a total cost of K16,896,840 using CDF allocations since 2023.
Siavonga District: Infrastructure and Empowerment Handovers
In November 2025, Siavonga MP Darius Mulunda handed over several key infrastructure projects funded under the 2025 CDF, including a 1×3 classroom block at Katulumba Primary School, a fully completed health clinic at Chalokwa, 45 beneficiaries supported under the 2025 CDF Loan Empowerment Program, and 11 additional beneficiaries empowered through recovered CDF loans.
A K40,000 CDF grant has transformed Siavonga Secondary School into a living classroom through a poultry production project, equipping learners with practical skills while supplementing the school’s food needs.
Sinazongwe District: 45 Projects Handed Over in One Day
On August 22, 2025, Sinazongwe District made history by handing over 45 completed CDF projects to the community. This brought the total number of projects handed over between 2022 and 2024 to an impressive 57, touching every corner of the district. The projects included:
- Health Sector (12 projects): 3 new health posts, 2 maternity annexes, 1 mother’s shelter, 2 staff houses, 3 ablution blocks, and procurement of essential medical equipment.
- Education Sector (10 projects): A science laboratory at Kanchindu Secondary School, 4 classroom blocks, 3 rehabilitated classroom blocks, and 2,000 double‑seater desks.
- Water & Sanitation (19 projects): 17 solar mechanised water systems and 1 borehole.
- Infrastructure & Security (4 projects): A bus stop at Sinazongwe, drifts and culverts, police cell blocks at Maamba Police Station, and a community radio station antenna.
Sinazongwe Constituency also received an ambulance procured under the CDF in September 2025, strengthening emergency response and improving access to health services.
Gwembe District: Over K14.8 Million in Education and Empowerment
Between 2022 and 2025, Gwembe Constituency spent over K14.8 million on education bursaries and empowerment grants. CDF loans have transformed agriculture in the district, with farmers investing in water pumps, irrigation pipes, and tanks to shift from rain‑fed agriculture to year‑round farming. Once‑dry fields are now alive with maize, okra, tomatoes, and leafy vegetables, significantly improving food security and household incomes. Beneficiary Mr. Munsanje Hansonga shared: “The CDF loan has given us a chance to grow food even in the dry season. Our lives are changing, and we thank the Government for this development.”
The district also handed over a CDF ambulance to Munyumbwe Level One Hospital to ease transport challenges. Seven community projects were approved under the 2025 CDF allocation, including the procurement of a drilling rig, construction of a 1×3 classroom block at Mukona Community School, and construction of two health posts and ablution blocks in Mabula area.
Kalomo District: Development Boom
Kalomo Central has witnessed a development boom. Over 900 students have been supported through bursaries, classroom blocks and laboratories have been constructed, and desks provided. Roads have been paved, streetlights installed in Kalomo town, and major infrastructure projects include the K4.2 million Kalonda Dam and Munkolo Bridge. Grants to women cooperatives and youth entrepreneurs totaling K3.5 million annually have been administered in all the wards.
Kalomo Town Council procured an excavator under the 2025 CDF at a total cost of K4,152,800 to enhance road maintenance and drainage works. A CDF drilling rig has drilled boreholes in Chifusa Ward, Siachitema Ward, and other locations, helping schools, clinics, and surrounding communities gain reliable access to clean water.
Zimba District: Over K1.7 Million in Loans
Government through Zimba Town Council disbursed a total of K1,746,232.59 as loans under the 2024 CDF empowerment component to 31 beneficiaries drawn from across Mapatizya Constituency. The government has intensified the drilling and equipping of climate‑resilient industrial boreholes in Mapatizya Constituency.
Pemba District: Machinery and Bridge Handover
Pemba Town Council handed over CDF‑procured machinery and the Namubbila Bridge in Dobo Ward, supported by CDF allocations from 2022 and 2023, enhancing connectivity across the district. A CDF tractor loader‑backhoe and tipper truck are already making a remarkable impact, with uncollected waste becoming a thing of the past.
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 Southern Province. In Mumbwa Constituency, 67 clubs and cooperatives were empowered with grants at a total cost of K2,240,400. In Kalomo Central, women cooperatives and youth entrepreneurs receive K3.5 million in grants annually. In Zimba, the 2024 CDF loan program has boosted local businesses and promoted financial inclusion.
The skills development component has been equally transformative. In Livingstone, K7.6 million was disbursed for secondary school and skills development bursaries in 2025. In Choma, the Ministry of Local Government visited training institutions to ensure learning and living conditions are conducive and that government is getting value for funds spent on bursary students.
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.
- Choma District: The drilling rig procured for Choma Central and Mbabala constituencies has been officially handed over. A water reticulation project in Batoka Ward is 40% complete, including solar installations, which will provide a reliable water supply through more than six running taps.
- Monze District: Monze Town Council has commenced construction of dozens of CDF‑funded projects for 2025 in all three constituencies. Priorities range from sanitation and water systems to classroom blocks, market shelters, and road rehabilitation.
- Kazungula District: Construction of crossing points, maintenance of 30 kilometers of feeder roads, and installation of streetlights are ongoing.
- Namwala District: A 20‑kilometer stretch of road is being worked on, and Chief Nalubamba and Mukobela’s palaces are yet to be constructed through the 2024 and 2025 CDF funds respectively. The government has released K260 million CDF to Namwala constituency, with at least 24 community schools to be reconstructed into strong permanent structures.
- Kalomo District: Monthly site meetings with contractors ensure effective delivery of all CDF‑funded works in Kalomo Central and Dundumwezi Constituencies.
- Zimba District: Eleven 2026 CDF community projects have been approved for Mapatizya Constituency.
- Livingstone District: The council has set aside K6,898,184.79 for 2026 to cater for both skills development and secondary school bursaries. The 2026 CDF allocation of K40 million underscores continued efforts to actualize the decentralisation process.
Challenges and the Path Forward
Despite the overwhelming successes, the CDF implementation has faced challenges. Some districts have experienced delays in project completion, and there have been isolated reports of fund mismanagement, such as the arrest of a Livingstone City Council Assistant Accountant for allegedly stealing K316,000 in CDF funds. However, the government has responded proactively, with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development emphasizing accountability, transparency, and active community participation as non‑negotiable principles.
The Presidential Delivery Unit has reported a national CDF utilization rate of 63% for the first half of 2025, with Southern Province continuing to improve its performance. The government has released a total of K5.6 billion in CDF funding for 2025, representing a significant increase from K4.8 billion in 2024.
Conclusion
From 2021 to 2026, the Constituency Development Fund has rewritten the development story of Southern 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 equipment, constructing markets and bus stations, and empowering thousands of entrepreneurs with loans and grants.
The evidence is clear: across Choma, Livingstone, Monze, Mazabuka, Kazungula, Namwala, Siavonga, Sinazongwe, Gwembe, Kalomo, Pemba, Zimba, and beyond, the CDF has delivered. As Monze Central MP Hon. Jack Mwiimbu declared, the enhanced CDF is “rewriting the development story of Monze Central, one project and one life at a time”. With continued commitment to transparency, execution, and community participation, the next five years promise even greater transformation for the people of Southern Province.
Summary Table: Key CDF Investments in Southern Province (2022–2025)
| District | Key Investments | Amount (K) |
| Choma | Mbabala loans (2024), youth club grants, training institution support | 4,015,613 (loans) + grants |
| Livingstone | 4 commissioned projects (2025), bursaries (2025) | 3,218,011 + 7,626,806 |
| Monze | Ablution block & water reticulation at Manungu School | Under 2024 CDF |
| Mazabuka | 2025 projects: classroom blocks, staff houses, boreholes, maternity annex | Multiple |
| Kazungula | 2024 budget (CDF component), roller compactor, roads, street lights | 30,635,642 |
| Namwala | 4 projects (2022/23), earth‑moving equipment, palace construction | 2,000,000+ + 16,896,840 |
| Siavonga | 2025 handovers: classroom block, clinic, 56 loan beneficiaries | Under 2025 CDF |
| Sinazongwe | 45 projects (2025), ambulance, 2,000 desks | Multiple |
| Gwembe | Education bursaries & grants (2022–25), irrigation loans, ambulance | 14,800,000+ |
| Kalomo | Excavator, Kalonda Dam (K4.2M), grants (K3.5M annually), drilling rig | 4,152,800 + others |
| Zimba | 2024 loans, industrial boreholes | 1,746,232 |
| Pemba | Machinery, Namubbila Bridge, tractor loader‑backhoe | Under 2022/23 CDF |