Thursday, March 28, 2024

Nkombo urges civic leaders to understand the legal framework that guides running of councils

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Local Government and Rural Development Minister Garry Nkombo has asked councillors to understand the legal framework that guides the running of councils for them to operate with the law.

Mr. Nkombo has also implored councillors to understand the United Party for National Development (UPND) manifesto for them to work in tandem with the goals of the new dawn government.

Speaking in Kitwe yesterday when he officiated at the orientation workshop for councillors and chiefs in the local government manual and operations of the council, Mr. Nkombo said it is important for councillors to understand and appreciate what is expected of them in their course of duty.

“The expectations of the new dawn government is that all developments being undertaken will be in line with the UPND manifesto aimed at taking development closer to the people,” Mr. Nkombo said.

The Local Government Minister said the orientation workshop will enable civic leaders to understand their work environment, the local government system as well as their respective roles and responsibilities.

He explained that the new dawn government acknowledges that local authorities and their leaders are better placed to respond to the needs of people in communities.

Mr. Nkombo said that is why government decided to build capacities of councilors and enable them address challenges that they might encounter in their course of duty.

He further noted that addressing the challenges of the local communities will largely depend on the civic leaders’ ability to make and implement policies that will add value to the lives of people in respective local authorities.

And Mr. Nkombo has urged the councilors to work together despite their diverse political affiliation in order to serve their people effectively.

And Kitwe Mayor Mpansa Mwaya has appealed to government to improve the conditions of service for councilors.

“For us to walk and talk with you, we need to be motivated,” Ms. Mwaya said.

She thanked the Minister for organising the orientation workshop which she said has so far opened up the minds of the civic leaders regarding what is expected of them.

Earlier, Mr. Nkombo met four chiefs from North Western province who promised to work with government it its quest to develop the country.

Speaking on behalf of other traditional leaders, chieftainess Nyakulenga wished President Hakainde Hichilema and his new dawn government success and God’s blessings as he governs the country.

During the meeting, Mr. Nkombo encouraged the chiefs to also understand the local government manual for them to work well with the council and avoid possible conflicts with local authorities.

He said government is in a hurry to develop the country hence it recognises chiefs as key partners in this quest.

The chiefs that met the minister are Chinyama of the Luvale people, Kakoma of the Lunda, Ingwe of the Kaonde people and chieftainess Nyakuleng’a of the Lunda people, all of Western Province.

12 COMMENTS

  1. And Kitwe Mayor Mpansa Mwaya has appealed to government to improve the conditions of service for councilors ……. and who speaks for the the council employees

  2. This is rich coming from a government whose president’s actions so far bring to question his competence, ability and experience in public office. Hh is learning on the job. This was not the right time for experimental leadership

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  3. This is rich coming from a government whose president’s actions so far bring to question his competence, ability and experience in public office.

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  4. Upnd are opening mouth more than doing. We are still waiting for your ambitious promises to materialise. My relatives in my village keep asking me when free education will come for their children

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  5. @Kaiza sosala: yes they are opening their mouth than working cos working requires money. And that money was stolen by you. So ni fast forward chabe with opening mouths – and they ll do it everyday until you culprits that stole bring back efyo mwatolele.

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  6. It’s pointless to do anything right now-cos exactly can one do with an empty treasury, fake debt figures when debt was actually double, high inflation, weak kwacha? These morons talk as if they left a vibrant economy behind

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  7. Kaizar and your group were only concerned about accumulating wealth for themselves and were never concerned about the people of Zambia who were being traumatized by PF cadres in town daily.

    Poor marketeers suffered. The same people PF said would enjoy under its leadership suffered the most and was stolen from the most.

    Poor marketeers were charged for selling in the markets by PF thugs and beaten and chased if they didn’t pay

    Today, we have some sanity in the markets and those PF thugs have disappeared and are currently in hiding.
    Rest assured we know them and won’t forget or forgive them until we settle the scores

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  8. For the past 15yrs Kitwe City Council has a rogue institution. There was even a time when Town Clerk Bonwell Lwanga was threatened with a firearm in his office over land by a councilor. They sold plots within the perimeter of the Presidential Lodge, ZNBC land in Kwacha is gone, Mawlaik Barracks land is gone, thanks to the PF dominated council. They demolished people’s houses and put them in tents only for new structures to come in the same area but by different developers. What illegality haven’t they committed? KCC has so many revenue sources but deliberate financial leakages has rendered the council financially crippled. If you’re not tough with them Kitwe will continue lug in development. KCC can’t fail to pay workers if it’s well managed. Anyway, I hope Mpasa will try after all…

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  9. COUNCILORS ?? HALF HAVENT EVEN COMPLETED THEIR EDUCATION
    ALSO PF FORCED THE COUNCILS TO TAKE ON EMPLOYEES WHOM THEY DIDNT WANT ALSO THEY WERE OVERSTAFFED AS IT WAS
    SO PF SHOULD ZIP IT INSTEAD OF COMING ON HERE WITH STU*pid STATEMENTS
    MORE THAN 60% WILL STILL FAIL WITH THE CALIBRE OF STAFF
    AND IF YOU HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF DRIVING THROGH KABWE LIKE I DID LAST WEEK
    I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY ITS CALLED THE DUSTBIN OF ZAMBIA

  10. My study shows that both councillors and council staff are corrupt. Councillors cannot steal money from council because they have no control over it… what they do is ” degazette” council land share it, demarcate, and sell it in form of plots. The staff have got many ways of getting money corruptly like charging applicants extra money for such things like drawing approval. Under fueling council vehicles, not issuing official receipts. How does one buy those expensive cars when they get very low wages which is always delayed. How do they manage to drink beer everyday? The rot is deeper than we think.

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