Mr Lungu said the key challenges faced by local authorities included the improvement of water supply.

The President was speaking in Livingstone today when he officially opened the 59th Annual conference of the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) and the 12th General Assembly of the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders held at Chrismar hotel and whose theme was ”Inclusive Local Governance: Strategy for Success”.

Mr Lungu further urged local authorities to double their efforts to ensure the ”Make Zambia clean campaign” turn into a reality.

He called on rural based local authorities to continuously upgrade township roads and also to open up the remote rural areas.

The President added that the urban local authorities were faced with the challenge of upgrading and maintaining roads including coping with the ever increasing number of vehicles on the roads.

Mr Lungu also urged all local authorities countrywide to address the challenge of how to provide better, decent and planned neighbourhoods in their localities.

”The challenges I have highlighted must be addressed in order to restore lost public confidence in our local government. Local government is the closest point of contact between government and the people,” he said.

He observed that his administration was keen to restore public confidence in the local authorities which was a critical unit of government administration.

”Many people are applying for plots but you don’t give them but you give yourselves and your proxies. If you don’t do what is right, the country will not move forward,” he said.

Mr Lungu noted that most of the challenges currently facing the local government were attributed to past policies that undermined service capabilities in the councils.

He added that since coming into power, his government had recognised the need to devise policies that would enhance the performance of local authorities in an effort to transform them into responsive and more accountable institutions to which end government has scaled up resource allocation to local government.

The President also noted that the Local Government (Amendment) Act no 12 of 2014, which introduced the local government equalisation fund as a substitute for grants was receiving active consideration and assured the local authorities that central government would not unnecessarily interfere with local authorities’ legitimate function of formulation of by-laws, which include local taxes, levies and other revenue generating ventures.

Mr Lungu further observed that while low budgetary allocations could be a contributory factor to service delivery challenges councils face, he realised that the scarcity of highly skilled and motivated personnel at the local government level was another challenge.

”Most local authorities are experiencing staff shortages especially in strategic fields of finance and economic development, engineering, development and spatial planning. My government is actively looking into this deficiency with a view of creating enhanced capacity necessary to expand and expedite service delivery in the local government system. In his regard, I wish to direct the Local Government Service Commission which falls under my office, to urgently streamline recruitment, deployment and monitoring of staff in local authorities,” he said.

The President has also directed the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to expedite the process of upgrading of physical infrastructure and training curriculum at Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute in order to provide senior staff in service training.

Mr Lungu also observed that decentralisation through devolution would play an important role in promoting democratic decision making as well as empowering communities and building capacity.

”Let me assure you of my government’s readiness to continue to dialogue with the Local Government Association of Zambia as a critical stakeholder in the decentralisation programme. We are committed to meeting the 2017 deadline in the implementation process of decentralisation. My government’s unwavering commitment to the decentralisation policy also resulted in our support to the African Union’s decision to adopt the African Charter on the values and principles of decentralisation, local governance and local development in June 2014,” he said.

He also noted that the issue of allowances was hot among councillors.

”One of the burning issues are allowances and they are paid by councils and not government, that is why we want to free you to make whatever money you can, however, I will disown you if you make levies that are not commensurate with the lives of our people, otherwise councils can make their own money and pay what you can afford,” he said.

And Local Government and Housing Minister Dr John Phiri assured the President that he would his best to restore dignity and stability in the local authorities.

He also urged the councils to rise above the current clouds of disorder that included plot sharing and land wrangles.

”Do not occupy the Presidency with land wrangles, give the President a chance to rule. Decentralisation is becoming real and so is the revolving of funds to you. Show that you are ready for the decentralisation process. You represent a ward where our people are and where your leadership is so important,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Head of Development Cooperation at the Federal Republic of Germany Fran Hofmann said his government had the privilege of being the greatest supporter to local government and decentralisation process in Zambia adding that the crucial role of local government could not be overemphasised.

Dr Hoffmann said there was need to share the devolution plans with the public adding that Germany would continue to push for the decentralisation process so as to bring central, provincial and local government together.

”It is important to make decisions transparent and let the local communities participate,” he said.

And LGAZ Vice President Jordan Chipalo bemoaned the plight of the Councillors emoluments adding that the rates the Councillors received were low.

The British government says the successful implementation of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) will help enhance Zambia’s capacity to attract infrastructure investment.

Speaking during the launch of the PPP one day workshop, Acting British high commissioner Sean Melbourne said the workshop is aimed at increasing knowledge and understanding of the PPPs among the various participants attending the workshop.

He explained that the understanding of PPP is cardinal in helping government monitor effectively the implementation of various developmental projects.

Mr Melbourne stated that the successful implementation of PPP will lead to a more predictable business environment and also attract foreign investment in the country.

The acting British higher commissioner said PPPs are powerful tools that can be used to further grow the national economy.

However, Mr Melbourne said the British government is pleased to note that the Zambian government is keen to build institutional capacities so as to secure private sector investment.

He pointed out that infrastructure bottlenecks if not addressed threatens to slow Zambia’s economic growth.

Mr Melbourne urged government to use the gains made from the economic growth Zambia is enjoying by investing in infrastructure.

And speaking at the same function, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe said the PPP training programme has come at an opportune time when government is placing focus on exploring effective ways of partnering with the private sector.

in a speech read on her behalf by Permanent Secretary Siazongo Siakalenge , Mrs Mwanakatwe noted that the private sector involvement in infrastructure development is progress on well.

The Minister hoped that after the training government will work towards refining and concluding the regulatory framework to guide effective implementation of the PPP projects.

Mrs Mwanakatwe expressed confidence that the training programme will give participants a comprehensive overview of how to identify, structure, evaluate, manage and implement transactions under the purview of PPP.

President Lungu said there was too much bureaucracy in the implementation of the decentralisation process.

He said that he would table the issue of decentralisation to Cabinet for further discussion in order to explore avenues of how to speed up the process.

The Head of State pointed out that there is urgent need to take power to the people.

“Power does not belong to the top, it belongs to the people below, both in political and also in governance sense. We will not achieve much as long as we leave the people below. UNIP, MMD talked about decentralisation but nothing much was achieved. We are also moving slowly.” he said.

President Lungu said this at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport today before departure for Livingstone where he will officiate at the Local Government Annual Conference.

He further added that the decentralisation process would be talked about at the conference and also how councils can improve operations and work effectively.

Mr Lungu urged councils to devise means of raising money to fund operations because grants were not working.

Africa Development Bank (ADB) Vice president for Africa, Cecilia Akintomide has arrived in the country for a two days working visit.

Ms Akintomide who arrived at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at about 12:30 hours aboard a South African airline was welcomed by Finance Deputy Minister Christopher Mvunga, officials from the Ministry of Finance and AD Bank Zambia.

And speaking to ZANIS, Ms Akintomide praised Zambia for making strides in various economic sectors.

Ms Akintomide said Zambia’s economic journey has in the recent past been a success due to government’s commitment.

During her visit in the country, Ms Akintomide will check on facilities and country’s preparedness to host the ADB annual conference in 2016.

She is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda who is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of AD Bank.

Ms Akintomide is also expected to sign an Aid Memoire and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of AD Bank with the Ministry of Finance.