Government to revamp councils

Government to revamp councils

Mongu, May 31, ZANIS—Government says it is committed to providing salaries to council’s top management in a quest to help local authorities manage councils effectively.

Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Forrie Tembo said the move to take over council worker’s salaries is in a bid to revamp local authorities to acceptable standards.

Mr Tembo pointed out that standards in which councils are running currently country wide, leaves much to be desired.

He said all systems in local authorities came to a standstill due to lack of financial recourses and as a result of negligence from the previous government.

“The previous government did a lot of damage to councils that is why councils had gone to sleep” he said.

Mr Tembo who is also Nyimba Member of Parliament noted that previously, councils were left to survive on green and fish levies saying this led the local authorities to misappropriating funds meant for developmental projects in their areas.

The Deputy Minister was speaking in Kalabo yesterday when he paid a courtesy call on Kalabo District Council Secretary Milly Muluti during his familiarization tour of Western province.

Mr Tembo has however notified local authorities that government has no plans of providing salaries for council general workers saying there wages will remain the council’s responsibility.

He said government relived councils by taking over its top management’s wages in the quest to help local authorities manage the councils efficiently.   

And Mr Tembo revealed that his ministry has disbursed KR 2.6 million for the construction of bridges and culverts in Kalabo district.

He said the ministry will soon release funds for rehabilitating about 20 boreholes and installation of 15 new ones as well as 25 hand dug wells for the district.

Mr Tembo assured Kalabo district council which he described as being in a very bad condition that his office will work tirelessly to improve the working conditions of the local authority.

Meanwhile, Kalabo Council Secretary Milly Muluti commended government for showing concern in council matters.

Mrs Muluti said Kalabo is also one of the districts that will benefit from the township roads upgrading, pave Zambia 2, 000 and the street lighting projects which she said are on course.