LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS

Some of laws relating to councils in our country are mainly contained in the Constitution of Zambia of Article No. 109(1). The full detailed law on Local Government is contained in the Local Government Act, Cap 281 of the Laws of Zambia. The Act provides for the establishment of Councils or local authorities to say, their constitution, proceedings, Committees, Finance, functions, manner of regulation and by-laws, and appointment of Local Government Administrators. Under this Act, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development may wish establish a City, Municipal, District, Township Council, or Management Board. Currently, there are 5 City Councils, more than 13 Municipal Councils and more than 54 Town Council today in Zambia.

FUNCTIONS OF COUNCILS IN ZAMBIA

The certified mandates of Councils, it be City, Municipal or Town like Mufumbwe are derived from the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019 of the Laws of Zambia and the various statutes. Some of the Sections like Section 61 of the Local Government Act list the functions of Councils whose details are given in the second schedule of the Act.

The following are some of the overall functions of Local Authorities:

• Maintain law and order and effective administration of Councils to ensure national security.
• Control the keeping and movement of livestock, slaughtering of animals, sale of meat and enforce the disposal of diseased animals carcasses or meat which is unfit for human consumption.
• Take measures for storage, market and preservation of agricultural produce and prevention of agricultural produce, conservation of natural resources and prevention of soil erosion.
• Control the manufacture, storage, sale and use of petroleum, fireworks gas and other combustible or dangerous substance.
• Provide and maintain supplies of clean water and establish water works and water mains.
• Construct and maintain public roads, streets, sanitary lanes, bridges and water courses and remove all obstacles thereof.
• Establish and maintain sanitation and drainage systems to facilitate the removal of refuse and effluent.
• Provide for the registration of births, marriage, deaths, clubs and enumeration of persons or property connected with the administration of Council areas.
• Establish and maintain colleges, schools and day nurseries.
• Prepare and administer schemes for community participation in development.
• Establish and maintain a system of street lighting and in public places.
• Establish and maintain fire-fighting and prevention services in order to protect life, property and natural resources from damage by fire.
• Control persons and premises engaged in manufacturing, preparations, storage handling, sale or distribution of food or drink including intoxicating substances.
• Prohibit and control the use of land and erection of buildings in the interest of public health, safely and orderly development of the Council area.
• Demolish or remove buildings which are a danger to public health or safety and do not conform to plans and specifications approved by the Councils.
• Establish and maintain public amenities such as parks, zoos, gardens, pleasure grounds, camping grounds, caravan sites and an open space.
• Establish and maintain hospitals, clinics, health centres and environmental and health services; and
• Establish and maintain cemeteries, crematoria, and mortuaries and provide for the burial of the dead and destitute persons who die in the area of the Council.

CREDIBILITY OF THE COUNCIL

The credibility of our Council twigs from the fact that it is a body corporate entity created by an Act of Parliament, legally established as an Agent of the Central Government in the promotion of political, social and economic development to the lowest level of our structure.

Mainly, our Council or Councils at large operate a as representative of local governance system to elect a Council that has powers to make policies at local level. This in the run

Ensure the bottom-up decision making.

Citizens are involved in decision making by electing their area representatives such as Councilors and Ward Development Committees who petition for their needs in the local Council Chambers.

Also, area-based interest groups are involved in community development in which any person, who is ordinarily resident in a given geographical area called Ward, is free to seek election to the office of Councilors to represent the electorates.