Local Government Minister Vincent Mwale has advised councils in the country to modernise their operations in order to enhance service delivery and increase their revenue base.
Mr Mwale says the local authorities are capable of improving their operations and revenue base if they consider introducing electronic services which include paying for services online.
The Minister noted that introducing electronic services will make the councils viable and will allow them attract more revenue for the smooth running of their operations.
Speaking when he featured on the Hot seat programme on Hot FM radio, the Minister stressed that councils must be innovative, by utilising the available resources at disposal within their vicinity.
The Local Government Minister disclosed that the Lusaka City Council is currently piloting the electronic payment method before the system is rolled out to all local authorities across Zambia.
Mr Mwale, explained that councils have a structural obligation to collect revenue from the public through various innovative ventures, in order to help maintain the local authority.
On street vending, the Minister said government will continue the ban on street vending across the country.
Mr. Mwale disclosed that 360 Council Police Officers have been employed by the Lusaka City County in accordance with the Statutory Instrument (SI) Number 10 of 2018, to help curb street vending by bringing sanity on the streets and in the market places.
He added that a total number of 22,000 trading places have been identified at different designated areas in Lusaka, which include Simon Mwewa, Lumumba and Tokyo markets, where there is a conducive environment for marketeers and traders to conduct business.
He has further advised people not to buy merchandise from street vendors, adding that doing so will be providing them with the market.
“Stop the market they are looking for because you’re providing the market by buying from street vendors,” he said.
Mr. Mwale was however happy that the authority has been charging vendors defying the SI ban on street vending and has assured that the council and State Enforcement Officers are keeping vigil by conducting patrols on the streets, bus stations and in market places, in order to bring sanity in the city.
“I appeal to the people of Lusaka and stakeholders to cooperate with us as Government is dealing on this matter decisively,” Mr. Mwale sounded.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mwale has disclosed that government has engaged the Road Development Agency (RDA) and AVIC International Construction company, to de-congest Lusaka City by constructing and expanding road infrastructure in Lusaka.
Hi there Mr Mwale. I see you!
“Stop the market they are looking for because you are providing the market by buying from them.” I totally agree with his statement. Same goes for corruption and bribery. If consumers stop offering and instead secretly record people involved in these vices, Zambia will be a much better place. Corruption is not a Lungu or PF problem. It’s a Zambian problem.
You need launch the WiFi per Miles first.
There is a correlation (not sure about causation) between the drivers of change and the impact and result of that change. Estonia started out with a cabinet of mostly under 30s and just look where the Estonian government is today (you can even vote while holidaying because you just log in and cast your vote). I say this because most leaders in charge of receiving such ideas do not even know what it means to have a smartphone…
@KALOK ARE U ESTONIAN? ARE U IN THE CAPITAL CITY? LETS MEET AT THE NEW HOT PLACE IN TOWN FOR A BEER I WANT TO LEARN HOW ESTONIANS DEAL WITH RIGGING ON ELECTRONIC VOTING, BECAUSE FOR ZAMBIA WE ARE READY TO VOTE ELECTRONICALLY BUT IF MY PERSONAL EMAIL HAS BEEB HACKED BEFORE WHAT OF MY VOTE WONT IT BE CHANGED TO UPND WHEN I VOTED PF?