President Rupiah Banda says Zambia can attain all Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets if both the central and local government concentrate on implementing government policies in the next five years.
President Banda said this when he opened the 54th Annual Conference of the Local Government Association of Zambia being held at Nellas in Kasama yesterday under the theme, “Local Government –A responsive approach to accelerating MDGs attainment through decentralisation.”
In a speech read on his behalf by Local Government and Housing Minister Dr. Eustarckio Kazonga, President Banda said although local councils were autonomous, they were still part of Government and must follow the vision and objective of the central Government.
President Banda has since implored local authorities to streamline the achievement of MDGs targets in their planning and budgeting as well as actual implementation of projects in their respective districts.
Mr Banda noted that local government was strategically positioned to deliver to the people of Zambia as it was the closest.
He has also appealed to traditional leaders, the private sector, cooperating partners and other stakeholders to contribute towards the attainment of all targets set for MDGs.
President Banda added that his government was implementing the National Decentralisation Policy to improve service delivery to the people and increase their participation in development.
He assured councils of government support in form of grants and transfer of matching resources so that they could meet their mandate.
However, President Banda expressed concern about the budgetary and programme performance of some .local authorities.
He said Government programmes being implemented by local authorities should benefit the people.
On the newly established Local Government Service Commission, President Banda said this was meant to equip councils with suitable and qualified personnel in view of the impending decentralization process that will devolve some of the functions and matching resources.
Mr Banda urged local Government practitioners to focus their attention on the benefits the Local Government Service Commission would bring to the Local Government system and not what particular officers will benefit.
Speaking at the same function United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Macleod Nyirongo said decentralized governance was the best way forward in accelerating progress towards the MDGs.
Mr. Nyirongo observed that the achievement of many MDGs was dependent upon effective delivery of services at the local level where citizens can meaningfully hold their leaders accountable.
He however noted that accelerated progress towards meeting the MDGs in the remaining five years will require action by African countries and intensified support from the international commitment.
Mr. Nyirongo said African countries need to deepen their macroeconomic reforms, strengthen democratic institutions and invest adequate resources in human development.
At the Millennium development summit in 2000, world leaders pledged to halve poverty levels by 2015.
The MDGs attempt to focus national and global development activities on reduction of extreme poverty and hunger, achievement of universal education, promotion of gender equality and empowerment, reduction of child mortality and improve maternal health, combating HIV and AIDs, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.
And Local Government Association of Zambia President Charles Mumena has commended government for the timely release of Constituency Development Funds.
Councilor Mumena also noted that the increase in CDF funds has resulted in improved projects being undertaken by councils.
ZANIS
Does RB even know what MDG’s we need to attain, or is it just a written speach
I bet you we interview the man today and he fails to elaborate on a quarter of the goals. Haha, there is rhetoric then there is BS. This is BS rhetoric, aka S.h.I.t.o.r.I.c!
Those are very good ideas from His Excellency RB. This is what we want in our country. Developmental ideas not finger pointing. Thanks H.E. RB