Maravi

Decentralisation will reduce poverty - Zimba

Decentralisation will reduce poverty - Zimba
By Misheck Wangwe in Samfya
Mon 19 Dec. 2011, 13:55 CAT

SAMFYA district commissioner Godfrey Zimba says the decentralisation policy, if implemented will help mitigate the impact of poverty and underdevelopment among the rural population.

Speaking when a group of journalists, musicians and members of the Citizens Forum paid a courtesy call on him, Zimba said the tenets of decentralisation were so rich that if implemented, the country would start recording unprecedented levels of development.

He said the PF government had placed the implementation of the decentralisation policy top on its national development agenda as it was aimed at empowering local authorities to get the skills and the resources needed for them to discharge duties in a most efficient and effective manner.

Zimba said by 2013, devolution of power would flow with the resources necessary to district levels.

"When we speak about the issues of decentralisation, it is not an easy issue to look at as it requires budgetary allocation and the much-needed political will. Devolving power means that we have to look at human resource at local government level and develop it for them to carry out duties effectively," Zimba said.

He said it was clear that the government had demonstrated the needed political will considering that the local authorities had received the larger chunk of the 2012 budget.

Zimba said Samfya district had many challenges and the people's desire was that they should be given powers through decentralisation to decide for themselves what kind of development should be undertaken in the district.

"Samfya is a unique district as we operate on three levels and geographically we are located as such; we have the islands, we have the wetlands and we have the mainland. The challenges faced in these areas are huge," Zimba said.

"From here to the wetlands, it's about 200 nautical miles and to travel on water, it's not easy but our people need health, education and many other services. Our hope is that with decentralisation, government will be able to reach our people in swamps."

And Citizens Forum executive secretary Simon Kabanda said the forum, in partnership with the Local Government Association of Zambia and the Press Freedom Committee of The Post, had embarked on sensitising the people on the importance of decentralisation as the type of governance people needed.

Kabanda said it was hoped that through strong advocacy and the political will that the PF government had demonstrated, the policy would soon be implemented.

Labels: CITIZENS FORUM, DECENTRALIZATION, SIMON KABANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:02 PM