Minister of Local Government Pushes Councils on Transparency

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Gary Nkombo has this week instructed councils across the country to upload approved budgets for 2024 to their websites by the end of the week.

The Minister stressed that this was an important move to ensure transparency and enable people to track public spending and how resources are being allocated to priority areas. He called on principal officers at the ministry to ensure strict compliance with the directive.

Speaking on the subject Hon Nkombo stated, “these are public documents which should be accessible to all stakeholders and citizens, especially the residents we serve in our respective districts.”

“All this is part of our efforts to enhance budget transparency and accountability at the sub-national level.”

The Minister is also expected to later today launch the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Communication Strategy at Mulungushi International Conference Centre, with the event being livestreamed on various social media platforms. According to the Ministry, the launch will support efforts “to provide more communication channels, and allow for the dissemination of information on the management and implementation of the CDF to all stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, in Itezhi Tezhi district 26 ghost workers have been uncovered. Recruited between 2018 and 2021 the individuals have been receiving a salary through the Ministry of Health payroll but have failed to report for duty.