Lunga Town Council held an official handover ceremony of CDF Vehicle and a total of K6, 200,000.00 CDF Empowerment Loans to 31 beneficiaries, during a ceremony held at the Samfya Lake Bangweulu beach front Information Tourism Center in Samfya.
The occasion was graced by the Luapula Provincial Permanent Secretary Mr. Mighty Mumba in the company of newly elected Lunga Town Council Deputy Council Chairperson Mr. Joshua Chanda, Luapula Provincial Local Government Officer’s representative Mr Chiyabi, District Commissioner Mr. Matthews Mwewa, Access Bank Manager Mrs. Anita Shibuchinga and Council Secretary Mr. Gilbert Sendama. 
In his speech as he officially handed over the CDF vehicle and the 31 Empowerment Loans, the Provincial Permanent Secretary Mr. Mighty Mumba stated that, it was a privilege for him to be part of history in the making by witnessing the empowerment of our Communities on the path to national prosperity at community, household and personal or individual levels.In his speech he indicated that in the past two and a half years our country had seen unprecedented levels of human, social and economic development due to the increase in the Constituency Development Funds from K1.6 million in 2021 to K30.6 million under the able leadership of His Excellence The President of Republic of Zambia Mr. Hakainde Hichilema.”The New Dawn government through its pro poor policies that place human dignity at the very center of development for the population at grassroots household level cannot be over emphasized,” he said and that,” there could not be a better time for all Zambians to unite and sing one song of development regardless of our social or political inclination, through the moto one Zambia one Nation, One Nation One People.
The PS also noted that it was gratifying to see an increase in the number of applicants for Empowerment Loans from Zero (0) in the year 2022 and Seven (7) in 2023 to 31 as a combined total in 2024 as witnessed on this day.
This was attributed to Lunga Town Council management intensifying sensitizations on how to access loans and organizing financial Literacy training courses in collaboration with Access Bank formerly Atlasmara Bank for the beneficiaries, to equip them with Basic skills in Budgeting, saving, investments, debt management including paying back of loans and understanding credit.
He also pointed out the importance of paying back the loans into the revolving loan fund account as scheduled and clear them at the agreed for others to also benefit from the funds.
He also stated that his excellence the President of Zambia was keen to see the successful loan beneficiaries namely SMEs ,women and youth empowerment groups succeed in all their endeavors and that the president’s his eyes and ears awaited success stories to be told through the presidential delivery unit, on how well the loans would be utilized and later paid back in order to extend the benefits to all deserving Zambians.
Thereafter the Provincial Permanent Secretary With these few remarks it is now my commissioned the CDF vehicle and officially handed over the Loans to the SMEs, Youths and Womenβs clubs and Cooperatives.
Earlier in his speech, the District Commissioner Mr. Matthews Mwewa welcomed the guest of honor Mr. Mighty Mumba and thanked the President of the Republic of Zambia His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema and his government for its pro poor policies and development for the population at grassroots household level.
The District Commissioner encouraged the beneficiaries of the Loans not to share the moneys received, but to invest the funds for the intended purposes so as to improve their livelihoods and Lunga District as a whole.
He also pointed out the importance of paying back the loans so that others could also benefit in future. Also speaking at the ceremony the Council Secretary Mr. Gilbert Sendama reported that a total of K6,200,000.00 Luapula Constituency Development Fund Loans would be disbursed to the young entrepreneurβs, Clubs, Cooperatives and Business houses. He further informed the Guest of honor that Council as secretariat in partnership with Access Bank held a one day financial literacy training of the beneficiaries in order to equip them with the necessary basic skills to properly invest, manage, account and also to be able to pay back the loans received on time.
The Council Secretary further stated that the K6, 200,000.00 disbursed funds comprised the 2022 (ZMW1.4m) and 2023 (ZMW1.4m) Constituency Development Fund carried over funds and part of the 2024 (ZMW3.4m) Constituency Development Fund allocation. Each beneficiary received an equal amount of ZMW 200,000.00 for their various businesses.
