Maravi

Kazonga challenges councils to improve service delivery

Kazonga challenges councils to improve service delivery
By Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Fri 02 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT

LOCAL government minister Dr Eustarckio Kazonga has challenged councils countrywide to improve on their service delivery to the people. Dr Kazonga said most councils in the country were not providing adequate services to the people.

“Most of our cities and towns are today filled with heaps and heaps of uncollected garbage. These heaps of garbage found mostly at markets, stores, cemeteries, backyards, along streets and open spaces continue to increase in height and size due to high generation of garbage that does not match the collection and disposal to designated places,” said Dr Kazonga when he officially opened the newly constructed Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA) offices at Kitwe’s Chisokone market on Wednesday.

“The mountains of garbage have become not only unsightly, but also a source of diseases and a breeding ground for houseflies, mosquitoes which are major vehicles in the spread of diseases.”

Dr Kazonga also directed local authorities to implement measures such as strictly monitoring all developments in markets and establish permanent fire safety committees in liaison with the local fire brigade.

“Fire protection and fire-fighting equipment should be deployed accordingly as part of fire disaster preparedness and the council, in liaison with water utility companies, should provide fire hydrants in all markets and other designated areas with adequate water supply,” Dr Kazonga said.

He said there was need to have high standards of hygiene in the markets.

“Therefore, designated refuse disposal points should be established and quick disposal measures be effected to avoid unnecessary piling of unwanted garbage,” he said.

Dr Kazonga said markets should not be used as grounds for political campaigns but that marketeers should strive to maintain peace in the trading places.

“Let me take this opportunity to remind all of us that the new markets and bus stations Act No.7 of 2007 is now in force and that the public and local authorities are required to comply with the provisions of the law. Let us maintain peace and security in all our markets in the country. We want our marketeers to trade freely so that people also buy from these markets freely,” he said.

Dr Kazonga appealed to street vendors to leave the streets and trade from designated places.

“I expect the Kitwe City Council to guide the traders to designated places. With such measures in place, I expect those vending in the streets to co-operate so that streets become safe streets once again,” Dr Kazonga said.

And ZANAMA chairman general Elvis Nkandu said the association would continue working and supporting the government.

“If the government changes, we are going to support that particular government that will come in. But as for now we are supporting this government,” he said.

Nkandu urged the government to take extra care of the informal sector, which was growing daily.

Nkandu also asked the government to ensure that council officers in senior position were transferred from one town to another.

He said if council officers overstayed in one position, they intended to abuse their authority.

“We know that here in Kitwe some people’s contracts will come to an end on 12 April, so we appealing to government not to renew these people’s contracts,” Nkandu said.

About K157 million was spent to construct the new offices after the old offices were burnt by some marketeers who were protesting against the alleged beating of their colleague by ZANAMA security neighbourhood officials last year and his subsequent death.

Labels: COUNCILS, ELVIS NKANDU, EUSTARKIO KAZONGA, ZANAMA

posted by MrK @ 4:42 AM