LUO

By MWANGALA LISELI-
GOVERNMENT has said the devolving of functions from the Central Government to local authorities will start next year as part of the decentralisation process.
Local Government and Housing Minister Emmanuel Chenda said this would be done after the completion of the decentralisation implementation plan.
Speaking during the African Day of Decentralisation in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Chenda said implementation of the decentralisation plan had reached its final stage and would soon be fully implemented.
“We are confident that with the completion of the decentralisation implementation plan and the devolution plan, the programme would be able to start and it is our sincere hope that we can roll out this project early next year,” he said.
Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkandu Luo said people citizens  would benefit immensely from decentralisation.
Professor Luo, who is Munali Member of Parliament, said decentralisation had worked in her constituency as a lot of projects benefiting the community had been successful.
She said Chudleigh now had a police Post and that Kaunda Square and Chainda Township were no longer facing water shortages.
She said there was now a maternity wing at Chainda Clinic which would soon be commissioned and a block of classrooms at Chainama School.
Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata said decentralisation was the only sure way to step up service delivery in communities.
Mr Sata said in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy Potipher Tembo that the council was ready to take on board the functions to be devolved by the Central Government.
He said the local authority could not wait to be the focal point for public service delivery at the district level and stood ready to receive the devolved functions.