COUNCILLORS in Chipata Central Constituency have praised the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for improving communities but say the programme will only achieve its full impact if it is free from presidential policy directives. The councillors have raised concerns that some CDF resources meant for community projects are being redirected to initiatives such as the purchase of ambulances, police and CDF monitoring vehicles, and the construction of chiefs’ palaces, needs that were not identified by the community. Masupe Ward councillor Johnston Silungwe has, however, described the fund as a “brilliant idea” that has helped address long-standing infrastructure challenges. Speaking in an interview, Silungwe noted that the fund had grown significantly over the years, increasing from about K1.6 million in 2021 to...