INTEGRATED PLANNING VITAL -MUBUKWANU
GOVERNMENT has prioritised Integrated Development Plans (IDP) in order to guide development at local level. Authorities in North-western province have thus emphasised the imperative need ro make adequate preparations before the planning could start.
North-western province Minister, Nathaniel Mubukwanu, noted that it was important to adequately prepare and plan effectively so that the province does not develop in a haphazard manner.
He said the IDPs which were principal planning documents which should localize and actualize national programmes.
The Minister was speaking during progress report of the preparations of IDPs for Kabompo, Mufumbwe, Chavuma and Manyinga districts.
He noted that uncoordinated planning had proved ineffective with regard to the delivery of economic expansion and service delivery.
‘’This is why government has always labored in development efforts that bring all stakeholders on board,’’ said Mr Mubukwanu.
Mr Mubukwanu said integrated approach to development was a bedrock to all Government policies, plans and laws.
‘’Unlike the previous strategies, this has now been enshrined in key national documents such as the national planning and budgeting policy, the Seventh National Development Plan, the Urban and regional planning Act No 3 of 2015 and the Decentralization policy to mention but a few,’’ he said.
He said that the Urban and Regional Planning Act No 3 of 2015 prescribed that all districts should have Integrated Development Plans which guided decisionmaking by leaders at local levels of Government.
‘’Likewise, the National Planning and Budgeting policy recognizes the IDP as a basis on which financial resources will be allocated to the districts,’’ he said.
Government, he said, had partnered with Germany International Zambia (GiZ) in the preparation of IDPs in the province.
GiZ was supplementing Government efforts towards water and sanitation sector, improvement of revenue generation in councils and in planning at provincial level among others.
Mr Mubukwanu directed District Commissioners and Principal officers in local authorities to be actively involved in the development of IDPs in their specific districts.
He said his office would hold them accountable for either the success or failure of the IDPs.