President Hakainde Hichilema expressed his pleasure in meeting with mayors and town council chairpersons from across the nation at State House. These elected representatives, as part of the government, share the supreme responsibility of delivering development to their respective areas and managing public resources prudently.
President Hichilema emphasized that achieving these goals requires embracing the sacrosanct concept of teamwork at all levels—between central and local government, and within the communities they serve. He highlighted the opportunities presented by the country’s debt restructuring, the rejuvenated mining sector, and the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which will see a further increase in 2025.
“With the debt restructuring process behind us, the rejuvenated mining sector, and the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which will be further increased in 2025, we expect to see significant development in our local council economies,” President Hichilema stated. He urged the officials to ensure development is delivered to every citizen without bureaucratic delays and discrimination.
Addressing the challenges posed by the drought, President Hichilema announced that he has directed the Finance Minister to increase the CDF allocation in the 2025 national budget. This measure aims to accelerate development across the country.
President Hichilema also reiterated his commitment to zero tolerance to corruption, challenging council chairpersons and mayors to lead the fight against corruption in their municipalities. “The government will fight past, present, and future corruption,” he emphasized, urging civic leaders to improve service delivery, a key reason why people voted for the UPND government.
Additionally, President Hichilema addressed the issue of illegal land occupation, warning that the government will not tolerate the culture of impunity and lawlessness in land management. He urged local authorities to tackle this issue head-on.
Speaking on behalf of the 63 civic leaders, Vincent Lilanda, President of the Local Government Association of Zambia, praised the impact of the CDF. “The CDF has changed the way development is delivered to the people,” Lilanda said.
This meeting and the directives from President Hichilema underscore the government’s commitment to enhancing service delivery, promoting accountability, and ensuring that development reaches all corners of Zambia.
This statement was issued to the media by State House Chief Communication Specialist Clayson Hamasaka.
I wonder why councils across the country are failing bigly when it comes to water reticulation and sanitation. Boreholes crisscrossing soak-aways are a health hazard.
Mr President it’s still not LATE to flash out the PF system., before it “swallows” you. We now understand why you did not move into State House. It must have been a den of witchcraft. They were busy pointing at you as a satanists while their three fingers were pointing back at themselves, shame. Even your young man, Chellah Tukuta has some ideas to offer.
Watch on YouTube: Chellah Attacks Seer 1; Goes Hard On Edgar Lungu; Commends President HH …
The councils are under financed to deliver those services, one of the biggest reasons is revenue collecting and the historical one; if you remember the council was responsible for the supply & distribution for power until that function was collapsed into Zesco and necessary revenue was cut!. If they had all that, all these new areas would have piped water, roads & streets lights.
You are talking of corruption, but you gave them K7500 a day as sitting allowances, and they spent 5 days in lodges, including those from Lusaka and Kafue.
They sold all the housing units they had and did’nt build new ones. Even when the country is experiencing shortage of decent housing, population growth……. They are allergic to planning.
What a waste of time and resources. What’s wrong with sending Garry Nkombo to visit these mayors in their districts where they can explain to him the challenges being faced. In this meeting it was a one way traffic with one lecturer.
How do you know that where you there? It’s good way for them to meet to network and share ideas. It also saves time don’t have to repeat himself. I am sure they are free to speak they shouldn’t hy this position if they can’t.
Don’t need to be there. There was only one speaker
Councils are not performing as expected.
We cannot see any meaningful changes with
Increased CDF in new dawn as compared
To less CDF in PF.Take the extra CDF in to
Other areas where needed most.
We need to go back to the PWD system. The CDF nonsense is just a way of rewarding party members.
Zambia has 116 district councils but in this meeting only 63 were represented. 53 were not in attendance, has he scheduled another meeting with the rest? Let’s have an explanation before we comment
Fight corruption
START with the police first
If they dont act honourably why expect the rest too ??
Livingstone Mayor was recently caught stealing K180000….why is she still working as a Mayor….? HH is enabling corruption NOT fighting corruption
Read your news mwana, ACC reported that investigations are nearing completion, isnt a person innocent until proven guilty?
MMMMMM, do we still have mayors and local govts? Who is the mayor of lusaka, ndola? Have you seen ndola lately?
These mayors must be ashamed of themselves together with the president. Everything is DEAD!!!!!!! No clean reliable running tap water
And what happened to the Ministers being investigated for corruption?…..Again the Supreme leader Ayatollah Hakainde Hichilema lied to the gullible praise singers…..NO MINISTER IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR CORRUPTION….IT WAS A LIE….
They mmd ftj, hh destroyed the local govt and councils and see now how nothing functions. See the so called great Cairo road, it is like a small road in a rural area.
The dirtiness of each villages we have called cities & towns… What is this RELATIONSHIP with dirtiness in Africa? How can you have iloba/dirt soil exposed & seen in a modern city?
Musa Mwenya said if he is no longer available to work for the Supreme leader Ayatollah Hakainde Hichilema because of the level of corruption he witnessed at State House and other Government institutions…..
Dirtiness of each villages we have called cities & towns
This relationship with dirt & neglect back home, guys please
you LT are stupid
Why do LT flag normal messages here? What are you afraid of you LT / upnd?
LT ARE IS MANAGED BY BORED HOUSE HUSBANDS
WHO COPY PASTE ALL DAY
Want UP todate news go elsewhere
ANC is ranked 16 in the world as one of the most corrupt institution….and i think UPND is on top 10 list of the most corrupt institutions in the world
LT you are so backward, you dinosaurs
WE ARE A BUDDING NIGERIA
How can you function as a city, town when you have destroyed local govt & councils. Local govt & councils is dead.
What happened to the function councils of the late 80s and earlier? We used to see fimazembe & tractors grading gravel roads in komboni. What happened to clean cities, what happened you fat cats / politicians?
Zambia is a typical village with a villager for the president
Empower the youths & citizens so that they can have work & businesses. Pipo are hungry & desperate while the same old story continues with politicians
Half the youths have no interest in work
try employing some to find out
There are 84 district councils in Zambia
The 99 local authorities are overseen by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing and consist of four city councils, 15 municipal councils and 84 district councils. There are also ten provinces, which are purely administrative.
Local government was killed by MMD when stripped councils of all revenue streams. Houses, liquor trade, motor vehicle licensing, driving licences, markets and bus station given to cadres. That’s the reason we are living like pigs in our towns.
There is nothing progressive that has happened in this meeting except more allowances for the attendees.
“Abanensu besensela ilya Kawa” a Bemba adage which points to the one who hastens only when they see the sun setting. This has been the legacy of the so called “new dawn” Govt since being sworn in three years ago.talk shows and talk shows don’t develop a country. We need a decentralised system so that provinces can develop their areas. There is too much thieving at central Govt.