EU pumps in K22m in decentralisation project
By NATION REPORTER THE European Union (EU) has provided K22 million for successful implementation of the decentralisation police under the Enhancing Local Government Capacity for Development (ELGCD) Project.
EU ambassador to Zambia and COMESA Alessandro Mariani observed that the project was in line with Zambia’s 7th National Development Plan.
Mr Mariani pledged the EU’s commitment to support the vision and aspirations of the people of Zambia at all levels including at decentralised level.
The EU Chief was speaking in Lusaka yesterday during the launch of the (ELGCD) Project.
Speaking at the same event, Local Government Minister, Vincent Mwale said his ministry had noted a measure of resistance in some institutions adding that the ministry was passionate in pushing forward the agenda and ensuring that nothing stood in the way of the implementation process.
Mr Mwale said through the Local Economic Development (LED) pilot project, Kaoma town council had since entered into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with a service provider, a scenario which saw the indiscriminate waste disposal drastically reduced.
Mr Mwale said since February, 2016 Kaoma council was able to save K 15,000 on a monthly basis as the cost of solid waste collection was being born by the generators themselves.
Mr Mwale made the remarks in a speech read for him by his Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga.
“Given these encouraging results, emerging from the LED pilot project, the Ministry of Local Government and its partners, Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) and Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) developed guidelines on implementing LED which will guide the roll out of LED nationally,” he said.
Mr Mwale said similarly, Kitwe City Council had secured a strategic partnership with the World Bank, with funding amounting to $2,310,200 channelled towards skills development.
The funds would also be used to buy equipment in a bid to reduce environmental issues associated with mining in critically polluted areas of Kitwe.