Thursday, March 28, 2024

Government urges local authorities to generate own resources

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LUAPULA Province Minister Nickson Chilangwa
LUAPULA Province Minister Nickson Chilangwa

Luapula Province Minister Nickson Chilangwa says it is saddening that councils in the region always want to call on the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit whenever there is a disaster.

Mr. Chilangwa says it is unfortunate that the local authorities in the province always look to government through the DMMU when faced with a calamity and wondered what the councils plan for in their budgets.

He observed that councils receive Local government equalization funds ( LGEFs) in which 20 percent of the funds is for capital projects and wondered where councils take the money when they cannot address issues that affect communities.

ZANIS reports that the Provincial Minister said this when he addressed planners from deferent councils in the province in Samfya yesterday.

He said it is sad that even when the councils make a lot of money through other means councils still fail to buy small but necessary things like dust bins in towns.

Mr Chilangwa has since ordered councils not to purchase any vehicle without the approval of the provincial Permanent Secretary.

He warned that he will not take kindly any lazy council and urged councils to be innovative and generate more revenue to develop the districts.

“ Time has come for councils not sit idle but come up with projects and work with investors and generate resources and better the lives of people in their district, “ he said.

10 COMMENTS

  1. YOU ARE ON POINT………..COUNCILS STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY MORE THAN TWO DECADES AGO…THE ONLY TIME YOU GET TO HEAR ABOUT COUNCILS IS WHEN THEY ARE SELLING PLOTS, COLLECTING LAND RATES AND TAXES…THEY NEVER PROVIDE ANY SERVICE TO COMMUNITIES..

    • Thank you Mr Chilangwa you are 100 percent correct! These are the points I have been raising for years! Why do these councils rush to buy luxury SUVs and yet fail to provide the basic facilities to the people in their districts.

      No enough is enough, this habit of buying luxury SUVs at the expense of more important matters must come to a stop! Just one SUV such as the new Toyota Hilux costs in the range of K300,000- that money could be used on drainages and dustbins.

      Mr Chilangwa well said but don’t let this be a one day song! This song must be sung every day! Abash Luxury SUVs in govt!

    • One of the fake promises of this government was decentralisation, which they have failed to fully enforce. Local and provincial governments have to operate like enterprises, budget locally and operate competitively. Then we will see change.

    • I knew it, I just knew it. I knew Prayer would be the next. Listen to this headline from another new sources: ‘Fight against Cholera goes spiritual as Minister declares prayer, fasting’. And the story goes: “Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Reverend Godfridah Sumaili has announced a one-week prayer and fasting period beginning Monday, January 15 to Monday January 22, 2018 to “kick out Cholera from the Land”.
      HOW ABOUT STOPPING TO STEAL AND BUYING MEDICINES AND FUNDING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO CLEAN THE TOWNS AND CITIES? Godfridah GO AWAY

  2. Yes indeed, that is correct. They collect our moneys in rates and other levies just to pay themselves allowances. Pathetic, you just wonder what they exist for. We don’t owe those malingerers a living. Privatise them.

  3. In uk the maniseperlity Have there owner Airport as a business And yet in zambia after all those years not even to look after chickens

  4. “……urged councils to be innovative and generate more revenue to develop the districts….”

    You will now find PF run council’s comming up with all kind of taxes like “walking tax”, ” clean breathing air tax”

  5. IS THIS UR OWN THINKIN OR IT IS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT? IF ITS UR THINKING U NEED TO BE FIRED IF THE OPPOSITE WE NEED TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS IF BELOW 50% IN 6 MONTHS WE JAIL U FOR ONE WEEK

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