Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Government says the implementation of decentralization in the local government system has assumed a new status which has set in motion, the process of empowering all Zambians to realize their social, economic, political and cultural aspirations.
Speaking during the official opening of the consultative meeting on the implementation of the revised national decentralization policy in Lusaka today, Local Government Minister Steven Kampyongo, however, notes that policy guidelines on their own cannot effect transformational change, without a sound approach to decentralization being adopted in the management and the implementation of management systems in the councils.
Steven Kampyongo
Mr. Kampyongo says the expectation of the citizens are high and that government has its own expectations of all the councils.
He points out that some of the expectations are that councils are expected to operate as professional institutions, promote people’s participation in democratic governance at the local level to enhance local governance and to effectively manage all the devolved functions and resources in order to improve efficiency.
He notes that decentralization, if well implemented, enables citizens to take part in government decision making processes and, therefore, offers enhanced opportunities to put democracy into practice especially at the local level.
Mr. Kampyongo says government will ensure that the policies being implemented are supported simultaneously by a professional management team that has an understanding of the deliverables of the individual councils.
And Secretary to the Cabinet Rowland Msiska says Decentralization improves the possibility to use public funds in a needs oriented and efficient way.
Dr Msiska said this in a speech read on his behalf by Permanent Secretary for policy analysis and coordination Division Bernard Kamphasa.