Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU) has appealed to President Edgar Lungu to seriously consider finding a lasting solution to the financial problems facing local councils.
ZULAWU President Misheck Nyambose says as President Lungu settles down in his new job, his union makes a passionate appeal that his government finds a permanent solution to the financial quagmire which have affected councils for a long time.
Mr Nyambose says ZULAWU hopes that the election of Mr Lungu as President will bring a new lease of life in councils in order to enable them improve on service delivery.
He notes that councils have for a long time faced financial woes after some of the revenue collection departments were withdrawn from councils by government and that this has resulted in persistent challenges such as failure by the local authorities to pay salaries to workers, collection of garbage, provision of adequate water and sanitation and others.
Mr Nyambose has however commended government for recently releasing funds towards the payment of salaries and salary arrears in district councils, and has urged managements in councils to use the money for the intended purpose and avoid diverting such funds considering that some workers in council have gone for long periods without getting salaries.
The ZULAWU President adds that President Lungu should ensure that the system of paying council workers through the government payroll, which was supported by the late President Michael Sata is immediately effected in order to lessen the financial difficulties councils are facing in paying salaries.
He says ZULAWU supports the idea of creating a centralized salary system because it will not easily be manipulated by council managements and that this will also guarantee salaries to workers just like any other public sector employee.
And Mr Nyambose has appealed to government to deal with people, especially political cadres, who have been interfering with the collection of council taxes such as rates, market levies and bus station levies.