Students Back CDF, Free Education

Urge voters to judge national development through evidence, accountability and measurable service delivery

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 --- (30-06-2026)  — Zambia is experiencing noticeable progress in decentralised development and public service delivery, but this progress must be evaluated carefully, using evidence, accountability, and balanced political comparison rather than rhetoric or speculation.

Students from the country’s higher learning institutions collectively, severally, and individually told journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka that national development debates must be grounded in verifiable results, while also allowing fair scrutiny of both past and current administrations.

ZCAS University Students’ Union President and NACOSU spokesperson said the country is witnessing what he described as “clear and observable outcomes” of decentralised development, driven mainly through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and education reforms such as free education.

He said these reforms have shifted development from being centrally concentrated to being more visible at community level, where citizens can directly see and experience government interventions. According to him, this is what makes current development measurable rather than theoretical.

Makonga explained that the CDF has become a key tool in accelerating grassroots development, with enhanced funding allowing constituencies to implement more projects in shorter timeframes.

He pointed to the distribution of police service vehicles aimed at strengthening local security, ambulances to improve emergency response, fire and rescue vehicles to support disaster management.

He also noted that monitoring and implementation vehicles have been deployed to improve oversight of constituency projects, which he said has strengthened accountability at local level. In his view, this represents a shift toward more practical and visible governance outcomes.

On education, Makonga said progress has been significant and multi-layered.

He stated that over 4,600 classroom blocks have reportedly been constructed nationwide, helping to reduce congestion and improve learning conditions in many areas.

He added that university infrastructure is also expanding, including the construction of student hostels, supported in part by public-private partnerships that are easing accommodation pressures.

These partnerships, he said, are helping bridge infrastructure gaps that previously limited access to higher education.

Makonga further highlighted the introduction of free education as a major policy shift, saying it has led to a sharp increase in school enrolment. He said reports indicate that millions of learners have returned to school, reversing previous dropout trends.

He also pointed to school feeding programmes introduced in selected areas, noting that they have contributed to improved attendance and reduced dropout rates, particularly among vulnerable learners.

He explained that the overall direction of national development reflects growing momentum toward decentralised service delivery, with additional initiatives such as solar energy expansion and strengthened local government capacity expected to further enhance community-based development and reduce overreliance on central government structures.

Levy Mwanawasa Medical University Students’ Union President and NACOSU Secretary for Education Affairs said development should be judged strictly through measurable outcomes in health, education, infrastructure, and economic performance, arguing that public resource management directly influences public trust in government.

He said public debate should not be driven by political messaging but by evidence of what has actually been delivered on the ground.

According to him, the credibility of any administration depends on whether citizens can see tangible improvements in their daily lives.

Malambo cited past concerns raised before 2021, including allegations of expired medicines and medical supplies being distributed in the health system, as examples that highlight the importance of accountability in public service delivery.

He said such issues weakened confidence in institutions and must be considered when assessing historical governance performance.

He further argued that comparisons between past and current leadership should focus on whether reforms have strengthened systems in key sectors such as health and education, rather than relying on political rhetoric.

Malambo added that health outcomes are closely linked to economic performance, stating that a healthy population is essential for productivity, national growth and long-term development.

He said economic policies should therefore be judged by their ability to improve living standards and deliver measurable benefits to citizens.

He also emphasised that development should be assessed using clear indicators such as infrastructure completion rates, access to quality education, reliability of health services and broader economic performance metrics.

He warned that narratives not supported by data risk misleading the public.

NIPASU President and NACOSU Secretary General for Special Duties said public discourse on national development must remain anchored in verified information rather than speculation.

He acknowledged that there are visible gains in several sectors but stressed that important questions remain regarding efficiency, transparency and equity in resource distribution.

Sakala said a key concern is whether development interventions are reaching all intended beneficiaries fairly and consistently, particularly across different constituencies. He noted that without proper oversight, disparities in implementation may persist unnoticed.

He emphasised that sustained public accountability and independent verification mechanisms are essential to ensure that development objectives are fully achieved.

According to him, these systems help identify gaps early and strengthen service delivery.

He added that constructive engagement should not only highlight achievements but also examine weaknesses in implementation systems, arguing that balanced scrutiny improves governance outcomes.

He concluded that national debates on development reflect a healthy democratic process, provided they remain grounded in evidence and focused on real service delivery results rather than political competition alone.