Five functions from three sector ministries have been devolved to the Local Authorities across the country.
These are from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.
The Provincial Local Government Officer (PLGO) Adam Jere explained that the five devolved functions include agricultural services, community development, social welfare, and fisheries and livestock services, respectively.
Mr Jere noted that the devolution of five functions from 3 sectors will be effective by 1st January 2025.
He disclosed this development during a joint Provincial Constituency Development Fund Committee and the Provincial Devolution Committee briefing held in Chinsali.
The Provincial Local Government Officer stated that the tentative budgets for the recently devolved functions in 2025 have already been completed by the local authorities and are awaiting final approval.
Mr Jere further said eight functions under the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Youth, Sport and Arts, Tourism, Home Affairs and Internal Security, Health, Fisheries and Livestock which devolved to the Local Authorities in 2023 in a phased manner, sector grants started flowing in the first and second quarter this year 2024.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Devolution Committee members observed the need for strengthened capacity and accountability systems in the districts, especially monitoring of devolved functions.
They emphasised the need to establish a comprehensive, multi-sectoral, and interdisciplinary monitoring mechanism at the provincial level to oversee the four developmental pillars.
In response, the Provincial Local Government Officer said the Permanent Secretary’s office and secretariat for the Provincial Devolution Committee may secure some funding for a planning meeting and execution of the proposed activity.
This is long overdue…Zambia is not lusaka please. Send more functions to the the districts where the activities happen
Best news ever and congratulations to President Hakainde Hichilema and the new dawn leadership because this is the real game changer and such will make voting easier in 2026
Will be no different to local Councils
The New Dawn Government is very good. It is the best Government we had since independence. Those that favour centralization have been planning to plunder big from the centre. So by decentralizing we have crippled them.
What makes you think they local officials won’t plunder? Government just wants to wash hands off its responsibility. We had PWD, the so-called clever people abolished it and hence the deplorable conditions of government infrastructure. The people who advised you to abolish pwd still have it in their countries.
How silly! Corrupt individuals are everywhere; in central or local government. Tackle it with good education that emphasises ethics. Ask yourself why China’s huge population doesnt disintergrate into corruption.
Yes plunder can be done from anywhere.
@Kant China’s system of rule doesn’t tolerate anyone hurting the community for selfish ends. At least that’s one ethic of communism that is still standing
In China they shoot plunderers, as long as you dont belong to the elite.
In North Korea, only fat boy and his family are allowed to loot.
This Government is laying the foundation. A very painful and slow process, but citizens have to stick to it for the better.
Zambia is full of half-cooked reports. Who is training journalists nowadays? Here, the reporting keeps ending with devolution devolution. What is going to be devolved? How? What will local government start doing that central government was? Break down for your readers the political rhetoric. If you dont know ask the technocrats to explain for you
We going back as it was from 1964
@Mthola Nkhani…..Exactly! Does Evelyn Hone School of Journalism even exist? Today’s reporters…..Awe sure! No background to the whole issue! Sad!
Let us not be too quick to comment but allow time for devolved functions to roll out.