SQUEEZED between two loud-mouthed youths sipping counterfeit Bols whisky mixed with Mojo in a minibus overloaded with passengers and cargo, I never expected my dusty, bumpy ride from Gwembe to Munyumbwe to reveal the scale of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) investments in the area. Despite the energy-sapping journey along the winding gravel roads, the trip eventually highlighted how CDF initiatives have positively impacted the lives of vulnerable rural residents, as I came to learn that over K14.8 million was spent on education bursaries and empowerment grants between 2022 and 2025 in Gwembe Constituency. Upon arriving in Gwembe, I met a team of jovial and dedicated Gwembe Town Council staff. Their challenges became immediately evident when I learnt that the council’s...