Decentralisation policy launch cheers Saccord, ZCSD
By Abel Mboozi
Sat 10 Aug. 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes and the Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) have welcomed the launch of the revised decentralisation policy by the government.
Saccord executive director Boniface Cheembe and ZCSD executive secretary Lewis Mwape said in a joint statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that the launch of the policy would help the nation refocus its attention on ensuring improved service delivery at local level.
Last month during the celebrations to mark 100 years of the City of Lusaka, President Michael Sata also launched the revised decentralisation policy.
Saccord and ZCSD noted that in the past years, it had been difficult for citizens to access basic services such as water, education, health and shelter among others, a situation largely due to the centralised system of government that does not promote citizen participation and easy access to basic services.
"Saccord and ZCSD are therefore hopeful that the Patriotic Front government would go beyond the political pronouncements of implementing the decentralisation policy, but ensure that these political pronouncements are implemented," the duo stated.
"This can be done if there is a clear implementation plan of the revised decentralisation policy which should be accompanied by adequate budgetary allocation."
They noted that since the PF proclaimed to be a pro-poor government, it should implement the revised policy as it would act as a means of reducing poverty in Zambia.
The duo stated that citizen participation was cardinal in ensuring that a country's development agenda is undertaken.
They stated that in addition, citizen participation in development enhanced accountability and transparency, thereby improving service delivery.
The duo stated that their organisation had also noted with concern that the 2013 budget, which would soon be concluded, had not yet seen the disbursement of Constituency Development Funds to all constituencies in the country.
They appealed to the government to ensure that the CDF is not disbursed
piecemeal as both rural and urban districts needed to implement projects under the fund before the expiry of the 2013 budget cycle.
"Late disbursement of CDF funds will lead to hasty implementation of projects at district level, which will result in poor quality works which will lead to not achieving intended objectives. This is something that we can avoid as a country so that we have quality works that are realised from CDF monies which helps to improve the quality of life of the citizens," the duo stated.
Labels: BONIFACE CHEEMBE, DECENTRALISATION, SACCORD, ZCSD
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‘Govt is quarrelling with every key sector of society’
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Sunday, October 11, 2009 4:08:46 AM
A LUSAKA clergyman has said it is a big problem that the government is quarrelling with every key sector of society. In an interview yesterday, Reverend Malawo Matyola, who is also Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) executive secretary, expressed concerned that the government was fighting with all the key sectors such as the Church, donors, civil society, media and ordinary citizens with opposing views that were advising it on various issues.
“There is a very big problem; what is happening currently in our country is bad where we have the government quarrelling with all the key sectors. Every sector is in conflict with our government,” Rev Matyola said.
“The government is not just quarrelling with the media, it is also quarrelling with the Church, the donors, civil society and everyone. That is why you even saw with the NGO Act.”
He wondered why the government went to the extent of even accusing donors and diplomats of funding Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that were calling for honking against the acquittal of former president Frederick Chiluba.
“It was out of anger that the Civil Society Organisations resorted to honking. You saw the minister [of home affairs Lameck Mangani] accusing CSOs of being paid by donors. Now after we resolve to temporarily suspend the honking, I am now wondering, is the minister going to accuse us of having been paid by the IG [Inspector General of police Francis Kabonde] because he had accused us that we were paid by the donors,” Rev Matyola said.
He said the government’s attacks on people and groupings with different views on national issues showed the problem with the current leadership.
“It is clear demonstration that what they are doing is wrong,” said Rev Matyola.
“Two days ago the minister of home affairs was on radio accusing CSOs. Instead of them accusing us, the minister or the President could have said ‘you 18 CSOs, instead of doing what you are doing, come here let us dialogue’. But they are quarrelling with everyone.”
Labels: GOVERNANCE, MALAWO MATYOLA, ZCSD
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Rev Matyola urges disclosure of assets by NGOs
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Saturday, July 11, 2009 3:41:39 PM
ZAMBIA Council for Social Development (ZCSD) executive secretary Reverend Malawo Matyola has said non-governmental organisations must be willing to declare their assets the same way they have been calling on public service officers to do so.
Giving reflections on the NGO bill, Rev Matyola, who said the 2009 NGO bill bore little difference from the 2007 bill the government had withdrawn however appreciated the new provisions where the board shall prescribe rules for the declaration of assets and liabilities of officers of non-governmental organisations.
“This is a new provision from the 2007 bill and on the whole, it is our considered view that this provision in itself is not an impeding one in the work of NGOs especially in view of the principle of accountability and transparency.
And even more so is the fact that most Non Governmental Organisations have been calling upon public service officers to declare their assets and it would therefore follow that personnel within NGOs must be ready and willing to live the virtues that they have been calling upon others to live,” he said.
Rev Matyola said some provisions of the new bill, if enacted, would have implications on the work of non-governmental organisations in Zambia. He said under the 2009 bill, the minister had wide discretionary powers.
Rev Matyola said the definition as provided for in the bill where non-governmental organisations were defined more in terms of compartments was unacceptable on the premise that such could limit the scope and nature of their work and forms a good platform for the arbitrarily de-registration by the authorities on flimsy grounds.
He said the composition of the board was something that needed to be debated.
Rev Matyola said although the bill was silent over the fifty-fifty per centum basis, it had nevertheless provided for equal gender representation to the board.
He said the 2009 bill provided that the board shall among its many functions, register non-governmental organisations in Zambia.
Rev Matyola said it was their view that this was an administrative responsibility that the Office of the Registrar could competently discharge and not the board and thus must be removed.
He said the current bill also provided that the board shall recommend the rules and procedures for audit of the accounting of non-governmental organisations.
Rev Matyola said the current bill provided that the board shall approve the Code of Conduct as prepared by a Council of non-governmental organizations
He said the bill was also not clear on registration of non-governmental organisations after their formation.
Rev Matyola said the section where a non-governmental organisation must specify the areas of operations of its activities sought to restrict their work by requiring them to first state at registration where they would operate from, saying this could also be a ground for refusing to register or for de-registering it.
He also said the bill stated that the non-governmental organisations shall specify the possible sources of their funding to the Registrar, noting that this would become a ground for either registration or otherwise of a non-governmental organisation.
Rev Matyola said the bill provides that the board can reject the application for registration of a non-governmental organisation if it failed to define what public interest it was established for.
Labels: MALAWO MATYOLA, NGOs, ZCSD
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