Five wards in Lusaka have been selected for a ward development planning pilot project.
Acting District Commissioner of Lusaka, Douglas Kalimanzbila, said under the project, communities will be actively involved in the planning and implementation of ward development plans.
The selected wards are Kanyama, Lima, Chakunkula, Lilayi and Independence.
He said the planning process involves the participation of all stakeholders including men, women, youths and vulnerable groups in the communities.
He said this during the official launch of independence ward 14 development planning process held at the Lusaka museum in Lusaka today.
He pointed out that government is determined to involve people at grassroot level in decision making through the decentralization process.
He urged the selected wards to work hard and ensure the success of the project in order to attract more funding from government and the donor community.
Speaking earlier, Lusaka Central Member of Parliament, Guy Scott, said the ward development planning process is key to efforts of eradicating poverty and enhancing development at both ward and national levels.
Dr Scott said in a speech read for him by Independence Wards councilor Paul Chatele that decentralization is significant in empowering the grassroots and improving the general living standards of the people.
Meanwhile, President of the Federation of the ward Development Committee, Adrian Nsefu, has welcomed the reconciliation of President Mwanawasa and Patriotic Front leader,Michael Sata.
Mr Nsefu expressed hope that the reconciliation would trickle down to ward councilors in the interest of fostering national development.
I recently read that Lusaka city was being replanned. What is the outcome of that and how does that replanning fit into this selected ward projects or how do these selected ward projects fit into the bigger plan? Please get rid of these eyesore shanties and replan all cities. Construct larger and better intercity carriageways.
you are right # 1
I really wish Zambia will develop.
I hope my dream will one day be reality.
More serious efforts for planning and enforcement of who builds what and where are required to correct the mess we made of our towns. This is a joke!! No wonder our towns look like jokes and we are being made fun of as a country. There is a big Shanty compound in Lilongwe and its filthiest/dirtiest part is called Zambia and another pathetic shanty in Pretoria called Zambia. Thats how infamous we have become of our filthy towns. “Marshal plan” required to turn arround local councils, housing and infrastructure.
What was the criteria used to select these five wards? Who selected these five wards?
It is clear to me that this government has more cotton wool for brains than brains!
I think Leave Lusaka Alone and Develop a new town…which will have a better CBD…
Lusaka CBD is shocking there is clearly no room for more development
one other thing Government please get rid of the Small Minibuses…
and lets get Bigger buses and maybe Train Service..Lusaka is too small for everyone to own a car..
Lusaka can, with strong government will, be replanned and have a new face. We have seen how the chinese are doing that to their cities (quality aside)with lightning speed. The results are there for everyone to see. If you asked me how Lusaka compares to some of these megacities both in terms of surface area and population statistics you would probably be surprised that it doesnt even begin to compare. I agree with #4, we do need some kind of a ‘Marshal Plan’ to set Zambia on the path to sanity. When you talk of other countries naming some of their filthiest shanties after Zambia, we do have those shanties called Zambia compound right within some of our towns in Zambia right?
Shifting the capital to another town say Kabwe is not a solution. It will simply shift the problem.The entire set up of local councils must be overhauled, the structure , the mandate the financing. For a start I dont think Lawyers/Town clerks (worse still DA’s) are best suited for the enormous task of replanning, mobilising finance and facilitating massive construction of housing and infrastructure. Have a birds eye view of Ndola kabwe and Lusaka. U can see the massive shanty mosaics from 10KM above. Contrast neat with Joburg/Gabs. Ooh its depressing.
CONT: Lets try other professions eg entreprenuers,economists, engineers, property developers etc.We must recognise what is required for the towns and make a strategy/institutions/structures and with the right manpower with the necessary core competencies to execute this strategy. Skill in enacting by-laws and presiding over councillors meetings should not be the No1 Key Success Factor (KSF) for managing our towns
It appears there is alot of hot air in the name of planning. Its time Local Authorities got serious to make our towns look better. Try a birds view of our towns to see the mess we live in
#6, U R SPOT-ON. I HATE THESE SO CALLED MINI BUSES. SURELY, IN THIS AGE AFRICA STILL THINKS SMALL. IS IT A REFLECTION OF HOW SMALL OUR BRAINS ARE. HOW CAN A TOURIST BE ATTRACTED WITH SUCH TYPE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT. AND DOES ONE EVEN COMMUT WITH A PRAM OR SHOPPING. WE NEED FAMILY-FRIENDLY CITIES THAT CATER FOR WHEEL-CHAIRED PERSONS AND PIPO MOVING/COMMUTTING AS A FAMILY. COME ON CITY PLANNERS AND CITY FATHERS DONT YOU VISIT OTHER CIVILIZED COUNTRY WHERE EVERY FACILITY IS FAMILY FRIENDLY? INCLUDING ROADS WITH CYCLIST AND PEDESTRIAN PROVISION. ALSO, SOME HSES PLOTS ARE TOO SMALL. EG, KAUNDA SQ STAGE 1. Z HASNT GOT A SHORTAGE OF LAND. CITY PLANNERS THINK!!!!