Maravi

Kanganja urges councils to improve image

Kanganja urges councils to improve image
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Thu 14 Apr. 2011, 04:01 CAT

SECRETARY to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja says it is not good to work for an institution which people accuse of being corrupt.

Opening an integrity committee training programme for Luanshya and Kalulushi municipal councils at Moba Hotel in Kitwe yesterday, Dr Kanganja (right) told the newly-sworn in members of the integrity committees to endeavour to build positive images for their respective institutions.

“Your roles are too important to be left to chance. You have an opportunity to change the image of your institutions as far as corruption is concerned because it is not nice to work for an institution which people accuse of being corrupt. You can’t even walk with your head up,” Dr Kanganja said.

He said corruption perceptions made people suffer from low self-esteem and low morale.

He urged integrity committee members to apply themselves with utmost seriousness and zeal in their course of duty.

Dr Kanganja also urged them to be candid in their deliberations as no one will penalise them for speaking the truth.

And Dr Kanganja said Zambians’ aspirations can only be realised if local authorities delivered services efficiently and effectively.

He said it was regrettable that service delivery in local authorities was very poor and that almost everyone knew a long list of matters that councils were not doing right.

“We must be concerned about this unsatisfactory and unacceptable state of affairs. Whilst I fully appreciate that lack of adequate resources is a serious challenge, there are a lot of matters that we are doing wrongly that do not require money,” Dr Kanganja said.

“We must be transparent and accountable in whatever we do. Unless we do this, public confidence in us will be totally lost. We must avoid this.”

Dr Kanganja urged integrity committee members to lead by example and be accountable for their conduct both in their private capacities and at their places of work.

Labels: COUNCILS, JOSHUA KANGANJA, LOCAL GOVERNMENT

posted by MrK @ 6:19 PM