Government has warned of withdrawing grants to local authorities in Luapula Province that are failing to submit their receipts and payments to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
Luapula Province Local Government Officer Alfred Nyambose said that some councils risked having their grants withdrawn for not submitting receipts and payments and minutes of their meetings.
Mr. Nyambose said that under section 34 of the Local Government Act it was a serious offence for councils to withhold minutes of council committee meetings and receipts and payments.
The province local government officer said this during the Luapula Province Development Coordinating Committee Meeting over the weekend.
He said that councils needed to submit the minutes of the meetings within one month because the Ministry of Local Government and Housing had a mandate to scruitinize the resolutions from the Finance and General purposes and other council meetings in line with the Local Government Act.
“I’m afraid some councils risk punishment for flouting the Local Government Act for not submitting their receipts and payments and non availability minutes of the councils needed to the ministry,” Mr. Nyambose said.
It is a legal requirement for Local Authorities to submit the minutes to the Ministry for review and timely advice.
He said that submission of receipts and payments on time was critical to the approval of the councils budgets by the minister of local government and housing.
The province Local Government Officer said his office had written several reminders to the councils on the need for them to submit the minutes but to no avail.
Meanwhile only 13 out of 39 chiefs in Luapula Province have received their vehicles.
Luapula Province Local Government Officer Alfred Nyambose said that some chiefs had turned down Luxury four-wheel drive vehicles in preference to high trucks.
Mr. Nyam bose said that some chiefs have requested to be given high trucks other than the executive vehicles they were recently bought for by government.
Recently government bought 150 vehicles for chiefs across the country to enable their mobility and easy monitoring of development in their chiefdoms.
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Investigate them for fraud, misappropriation of funds and/or abuse of office as well.
Jail the thieves. Why are we pussy-footing on criminals in public office? Unless this GRZ is also made up thieves, I see no reaon why it is soft on criminals such as these in Luapula province and some of its councils there.
ZAMBIA Daily Mail Today
HE person who allegedly tipped a South African radio station last week that President Mwanawasa had died has apologised to the head of State. Malone Zaza, a 26-year-old information system student at the University of South Africa
Malone zaza wa fake fye, he is a make up to taste zedians to see if they are prepared to recieve bad news. this person shud not go scot free pantu saying some one is dead is more than an insult yet we see many people being cited for contempt and defamation while zaza is let loose. think about it.