Local Government and Housing Minister Brian Chituwo has expressed dismay at the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) portrayal of a misleading picture to the nation that the party is more concerned about the suspension of the Livingstone City Council, than Government.
Dr Chituwo said Government valued input from opposition political parties in the country but would not accept to be portrayed in bad light.
He said this during a Joint Press Briefing with Southern Province Minister Elijah Muchima in Livingstone today.
ZANIS reports that Dr Chituwo who held consultative meetings with Councillors, Chief Mukuni and Livingstone residents said he was hopeful the suspension of the local authority would be lifted by the end of the year.
He said this would be done to enable Livingstone residents have their civic leaders back.
Dr Chituwo said the Livingstone City Council was not functioning well before its suspension but urged councillors to bury their differences and work in harmony with the Town Clerk Dras Neves for the development of the city.
He said blaming Ms Neves for problems at the Council was unfair as the running of the local government system was a collective responsibility.
Meanwhile, Dr Chituwo said K3.2 billion had been allocated to the Secretariat on decentralisation in next year's budget.
He said decentralisation will empower local authorities and that they will be expected to perform to high standards adding that the Councils would be responsible for early childhood care, primary health care and roads among others.
And Southern Province Minister, Elijah Muchima said Government would not condone tribal politics, which the UPND was trying to perpetrate.
Mr. Muchima wondered why UPND President Hakainde Hichilema had taken a keen interest in the suspension of the Livingstone City Council when he had failed to do so when local authorities in Solwezi and Kapiri Mposhi among others, faced similar problems.
ZANIS
Dr Chituwo said Government valued input from opposition political parties in the country but would not accept to be portrayed in bad light.
He said this during a Joint Press Briefing with Southern Province Minister Elijah Muchima in Livingstone today.
ZANIS reports that Dr Chituwo who held consultative meetings with Councillors, Chief Mukuni and Livingstone residents said he was hopeful the suspension of the local authority would be lifted by the end of the year.
He said this would be done to enable Livingstone residents have their civic leaders back.
Dr Chituwo said the Livingstone City Council was not functioning well before its suspension but urged councillors to bury their differences and work in harmony with the Town Clerk Dras Neves for the development of the city.
He said blaming Ms Neves for problems at the Council was unfair as the running of the local government system was a collective responsibility.
Meanwhile, Dr Chituwo said K3.2 billion had been allocated to the Secretariat on decentralisation in next year's budget.
He said decentralisation will empower local authorities and that they will be expected to perform to high standards adding that the Councils would be responsible for early childhood care, primary health care and roads among others.
And Southern Province Minister, Elijah Muchima said Government would not condone tribal politics, which the UPND was trying to perpetrate.
Mr. Muchima wondered why UPND President Hakainde Hichilema had taken a keen interest in the suspension of the Livingstone City Council when he had failed to do so when local authorities in Solwezi and Kapiri Mposhi among others, faced similar problems.
ZANIS
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