More call for abolishment of District Commissioner position

Civil Society Organizations Decentralization Alliance Network (CSO DAN) says the position of District Commissioner should be abolished.

National Coordinator George Chimembe says his organization recently made submissions to the review of the national decentralization policy calling for the policy to clearly state whose function it is to coordinate development programs in a District.

Mr Chimembe says he supports the call made by Golden Party president Jackson Silavwe for the position of District Commissioner to be abolished and the mayor or council chairperson to remain the head of the district.

He states that there is nothing that the DC does that the mayor can fail to do. 

Mr. Silavwe stressed the Mayor is directly elected by the people from the district and has the people’s mandate whilst the DC is appointed by the Republican President and does not have the people’s mandate.

He has noted the need to strengthen the office of the mayor.