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{
    "id": 183109,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/183109/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 129,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Gunda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 25,
        "legal_name": "Benedict Fondo Gunda",
        "slug": "benedict-gunda"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Vote of the Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030. I have three points which I want to touch on in the course of my contribution. My first point is that this Ministry is charged with the responsibility of carrying out the national census. The current figures we have are for 1999. We hope that as they plan for the Census of 2009, they will plan this exercise properly, carry it out with due diligence and come up with figures which will reflect the true position on the ground. As we all know, the census figures are the ones which are used by the Government to distribute resources. We see this, especially with the CDF money. Firstly, the CDF money is based on census figure and the poverty index. I hope that when the census is done next year, it will take into account all these factors, so the Ministry can come up with figures which will enable the various parts of the country to get their fare share of national resources. Secondly, we know this Ministry is also responsible for distributing the CDF money to the various constituencies. We are happy about the amounts of money we are being given at the moment. However, I have a problem with the way these funds are being distributed. Seventy-five per cent of the total CDF allocation is shared equally to all the constituencies. Only 25 per cent takes into account the poverty index. I would like to see a situation where we reverse these allocations, so that instead of 75 per cent being shared equally, we have it shared out according to the poverty index and only the 25 per cent is shared equally among all the constituencies. That way, we will be able to distribute resources to the people who need it most. Thirdly, we all know that the funds which are devolved through the CDF have been used for the good of this country. The people on the ground appreciate what Members of Parliament are doing with the CDF money. Only 2.5 per cent of the total National Budget goes to the CDF. We all know that this percentage of the National Budget is being used to bring about a lot of development on the ground. So, I would want to see a situation where the Ministry brings to the House an amendment to the Act to increase this allocation to the CDF, from the current 2.5 per cent of the National Budget to, at least, 10 per cent. If it is not possible to do so, then let us increase the current allocation to, at least, 7.5 per cent to provide for adequate resources, which can be used at the grassroots level to bring about development. By saying so, I do not mean that the various Ministries are not doing much. However, as we all know, from the time we started using the CDF money for development, a lot has been done at the grassroots level, and it is only fare that we increase the allocation for the CDF. I think it is a cry which the Members of Parliament have given to the Ministry and we hope the Ministry will take it up and bring about the necessary amendments to the Act to satisfy the cries of Members of Parliament. With those few, remarks, I beg to support."
}