THE Lumezi Town Council has officially assumed responsibility for more than 1,700 government assets from the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Community Development and Social Services.
This became effective on Tuesday, marking a significant step in the government’s decentralisation initiative aimed at strengthening local governance and improving public service delivery.
The move empowers local authorities to better tailor services and allocate resources to meet specific community needs, promoting greater equity and responsiveness.
According to the Lumezi Town Council assistant public relations officer Irvin Muyumbwa, the asset transfer was conducted in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act of 2018, which provides the legal framework for transparent asset management.
Muyumbwa said the transferred assets include buildings, vehicles, motorbikes, bicycles, and medical equipment.
The Ministry of Health accounted for the largest share, handing over 1,590 items.
“1,590 assets from the Ministry of Health which include all clinics, hospital beds, solar panels, vaccine fridges, scales, cooler boxes and benches among others have been handed over to the Council,” Muyumbwa stated.
The Ministry of Agriculture transferred 59 assets, including 10 motorbikes, 13 buildings, and one Nissan Patrol vehicle.
The Social Welfare Department transferred 37 assets, including a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Nissan Navara.
Additionally, the Community Development Department handed over 74 assets, among them a Toyota Land Cruiser, a motorbike, and 37 bicycles.
Muyumbwa explained that the devolution of functions and assets was mandated by Cabinet Office Circular Number 02 of 2023.
He added that the council plans to rebrand all assets and infrastructure associated with these devolved functions.
Meanwhile, the Lumezi Town Council organised a Constituency Development Fund CDF radio programme in Lundazi where Ministry of Defence permanent secretary Maambo Haamandu talked about the ZNS voluntary skills training programme.
The programme funded by CDF, places emphasis on addressing the lack of employment and economic challenges amongst the youths while also providing basic military training as a prerequisite to inculcate discipline among the trainees.
Some of the voluntary skills training courses to be offered include Creative Arts, Tourism and Hospitality, ICT, Artisanal Mining among others, while agriculture will be compulsory.
The first cohort of trainees will comprise 1,092 youths drawn from each of the 156 constituencies.
“Facilities have been prepared to receive the trainees and we will soon give guidance on the recruitment process. Each of the students will have to study agriculture which will be compulsory. The training will be up to six months and we want to use this as a practical learning experience” Haamandu said.
Haamandu clarified that eligible candidates to take up the voluntary skills training programme under CDF will have to be Zambian citizens in possession of a minimum Grade 12 certificate with five passes because this is a minimum entry requirement for those who will potentially be employed by the military, police or immigration.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba July 4, 2025
