By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –

PARLIAMENT has recommended for the review of the Local Government Service Commission’s (LGSC) operations as opposed to its abolishment as demanded by most councillors and stakeholders.
This was after chairperson of the committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs Affairs and MMD Chadiza Member of Parliament (MP) Allan Mbewe presented the motion to adopt the report of the committee on the effectiveness of the LGSC arising from the study conducted by the group.
Mr Mbewe said apart from its poor performance, the commission’s operations were also in contradiction with the intentions of the revised national decentralisation policy of 2013.
“The aim of the re-establishment of the LGSC was to help local authorities with recruitment, retention of trained staff and in the payment of salaries as well as help train staff.
“On the contrary, the committee noted a high number of drawbacks associated with the operations, as its structure was too small to satisfactorily carry out its mandate in all the 103 councils countrywide,” Mr Mbewe said.
He said the committee also noted that its presence only in Lusaka, with just five commissioners and one secretary, made it over stretched, as evident in the huge backlog of requests for appointments, promotions, unresolved disciplinary cases and other administrative matters.
“The commission was also transferring a number of controlling officers to different councils without consultation from the ministry, with some transferred officers having pending cases of poor performance previously,” he said.
He however, noted that from the time the LGSC was reintroduced in 2010 the commission fulfilled some of its mandate such as deployment of qualified staff to councils and enhanced security to members of staff who previously used to be dismissed from employment by councillors for petty issues.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Mbabala MP, Ephraim Belemu on the contrary called for the abolishment of the Commission saying it was in contradiction with the policy of decentralisation of
giving power to local authority.
He said the Commission had become a conduit of nepotism.
PF Chongwe MP Sylvia Masebo said the abolishment of the Commission was not the best solution but what was required was to address the real issues surrounding its operations and local authorities.
She however agreed that nepotism was rampant in most Government institutions and urged Government to seals the loopholes so that employment was on a meritorious basis.
“To make the Commission successful there is need to formulate rules and regulations, calling of abolishment is not the best way,” Ms Masebo said.
Minister of  Local Government and Housing, Emmanuel Chenda told the House that the draft service regulatory for the review of the Commission had been completed and submitted to the ministry of Justice for approval.
Mr Chenda also told the House that the Government was committed to ensuring that the decentralisation policy succeeded.
He said the problems currently faced with LGSC were merely a management error, which could be corrected.
He assured the House that Government would consider recommendations from the MPs to improve operations of the Commission and the local authorities in the country.