The Cabinet Office says Government is working diligently to actualize decentralization in the country.
Communications Specialist under the Decentralisation Secretariat at Cabinet Office Twaambo Siavwapa emphasized that President Hakainde Hichilema has been a strong advocate for decentralisation even before assuming office.
This was highlighted during a presentation on the implementation and developmental role of decentralisation at a Community Engagement Meeting themed “Empowering Citizens through Legal Information Awareness”.
The Community Engagement Meeting was hosted by the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR) under its Zambia Legal Information Institute (ZambiaLII Project.
The meeting was held at the SAIPAR Muna Ndulo Campus in Lusaka.
“When asked how he plans to bring development to the people, President Hichilema consistently answered ‘devolution’. He always said that decentralisation gives power to the people, allowing them to make decisions for themselves,” Mr Siavwapa explained.
He noted that the Central Government’s role is to provide resources, while the people decide how to utilise the resources for economic development in their localities.
Mr Siavwapa said in 2023, the Government launched the revised National Decentralisation Policy, its implementation plan and a simplified citizen’s version of the policy which has been translated into all seven major local languages and braille was developed and launched, for easy comprehension by the citizens.
He stressed that the National Decentralisation Policy carries the theme “Realising Local Development through Citizen Participation” to affirm government’s position that sustainable development can only be achieved if citizens themselves decide on development initiatives and participate by holding local authorities and local leadership accountable.
The Government Official said the Constitution acknowledges Zambia’s multi-ethnic, multiracial, multi-religious, and multicultural character, emphasizing the right to manage local resources.
Mr Siavwapa highlighted that the constitutional provision for decentralisation is crucial for sustainable local economic development.
He explained that the people of Zambia through the Constitution have chosen devolution, a form of decentralisation which entails the transfer
of rights, functions and powers or an office from the central government or State institution to a subnational authority or the bringing of a service that is provided at central government level to the sub- national level.
Mr Siavwapa explained that devolution is a form of decentralisation involving the transfer of rights, functions, and powers from the central government to the local levels.
“This includes the assumption of authority and the provision of services at a local level, allowing national citizens to participate more directly in governance,” he said.
He emphasized that Government officers must be present where the citizens are.
“Last year, the Government reintroduced a model similar to the powerful councils that existed just after independence. This model involves devolving eight functions from the central government to local authorities. The devolved functions include district health services, which are now administered by the councils. This means decisions about health are made at the council level, with the central government providing resources,” he said.
Mr Siavwapa highlighted that the devolved functions allow local councils to make decisions about services such as health, community sports, veterinary services, and district development.
He noted that last year, eight functions were devolved, and this year, a circular has already been issued to devolve five more functions next year.
“For the first time, social welfare services, community development, and livestock and fisheries will be moved to the councils next year. More functions will continue to be devolved, and budgets have been allocated accordingly,” he said.
Mr Siavwapa emphasized that with the devolution of functions to local authorities, the role of citizens is to hold the local authority and local leadership accountable.
He explained that the purpose of devolving these functions is to improve accountability, ensuring that people in communities no longer have to wait for decisions from Lusaka.
Mr Siavwapa stated that citizens can now approach their local authorities to demand timely and efficent service delivery.
“They can also monitor the improvement of these services because they are directly involved,” he said.
He highlighted the importance of offering checks and balances, as these services are meant for the people.
“The government’s role is to provide these services, and if they are not being delivered effectively, citizens have the right to demand better,” he said.
Mr Siavwapa reminded that in the past, resources and decisions were centralised, leading to inefficiencies.
“The government is now moving resources to local levels to improve service delivery and ensure that citizens receive the services they need,” he said.
