Government says it remains committed to implementation of the decentralization policy.
Speaking in Ndola, Local Government Permanent Secretary, Amos Malupenga said the Ministry of Local Government had noted a measure of resistance in some institutions.
Mr. Malupenga said the Ministry of Local Government was passionate in pushing forward the agenda and ensuring that nothing stood in the way of the implementation process.
The PS emphasized that the decentralization policy was a constitutional matter and the ministry was bound to ensure that it was realized.
He disclosed that despite the policy not having been fully implemented, the exercise has recorded unprecedented progress where it has been implemented.
And Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary, Bright Nundwe said the issue of the decentralization process should not be taken lightly.
Mr. Nundwe said for the country to develop, there was need for the system to tap into ideas from the ordinary citizenry.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Local Government was critical in driving the policy as it will facilitate the developmental agenda of the country.
Three quarters of the councils in this country cannot be trusted with some functions. They will just abuse those functions. And if funds are directly transmitted to the councils there will be massive misappropriations. If a big Council like Ndola can go for 3 months without paying its workers do you honestly expect them to use funds for other projects correctly? Decentralization is good but institutions in this country cannot be trusted