By Jimmy Chazama:
Deputy Director of Arts in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Macdonald Maluwaya, has said the government is supporting the creative sector, as shown through its allocation of funds in Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Maluwaya said CDF is a deliberate step to ensure artists are not left behind in national development efforts.
“We want creatives to embrace their work as a business and be equipped with financing and digital tools,” he said.
The government has allocated K4.5 billion specifically for creative arts and innovation under CDF, translating to K20 million for every constituency per year.
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“We are urging artists and innovators to make enquiries to their local councils and make use of the fund, for it is designed to provide infrastructure, financing and market access to the sector,” Maluwaya said.
Meanwhile, Shafiq Kalumo, Producer and Arts Developer at Linga Creatives, has welcomed the allocation.
“Many artists lack the financial muscle to accelerate their progress.
“However, the sad part is that K20 million is split between sports and arts,” Kalumo said.
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Kalumo urged councils to involve active creatives in decision‑making and to push information through community networks so that youths know how to apply.
“In that way, CDF will be utilised properly and will benefit communities at grassroots level based on their needs,” he said.
CDF was introduced as part of the government’s decentralisation programme to empower constituencies with resources for development.
