ZANIS – President Hakainde Hichilema has sounded a warning to local authorities that his administration will not tolerate any action that will be a departure away from serving the people.
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And President Hichilema says local authorities must work in a coordinated manner to deliver development to the local people.
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Speaking in Lusaka yesterday during a Special Meeting with heads of local authorities, President Hichilema said the old conventional mediocre standards set of how work is done in the local authorities should be done away with.
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The President also called on councils countrywide to not repeat mistakes of the past that never yielded any positivity.
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And Hichilema says councils belong to the ordinary Zambians and not politicians.
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The President also said opposition Members of Parliament sabotaging CDF are doing a disservice to their electorate.
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President Hichilema said CDF does not belong to any political party but that the facility belongs to the people of Zambia.
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He therefore called for the CDF process to be depoliticized.
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President Hichilema also challenged local authorities to install toilets in all markets.
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The President further challenged the councils to ensure that health facilities contain maternity wings.
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The Head of State added that by 2024 adequate desks should be procured so that no school going child should sit on the floor.
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And following the challenge, Lusaka Mayor Chilando Chitangala moved a proposal to adopt and commit to the challenges set by the Head of State.
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The proposals were seconded by Mwandi Town Council Chairperson, Lubasi Mwenda and have since been adopted by the local authorities.
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Meanwhile during presentations, various councils commended Government for increasing the CDF allocation.
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Mufulira Municipal Council Town Clerk, Moses Mwelwa said 123 CDF projects have been approved.
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And Mwelwa called on Government to reform the procurement process in order to avoid bureaucracy.
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He also said full decentralization must be implemented to ensure the smooth running of CDF issues.
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Kanchibiya Town Council, District Planning Officer, Charles Simukonda also observed minimal political interference at his local authority.
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Chipata City Council, Acting Town Clerk, Aaron Kamalonda bemoaned inadequate staffing levels in departments handling CDF.
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He also called for standardisation of procurement contracts by the Attorney General.
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But Local Government Service Commission, Chairperson Ackson Sejani assured that the Commission is looking into employing more people in the local authorities.
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And Kasama Mayor Theresa Kolala said there is need for heads of local authorities to have more influence in the administration of CDF.
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