Rescind suspension of Lusaka, Kitwe councils, demands LGAZ.

The Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) has threatened to sue Local Government Minister, Charles Banda, over the suspension of the Lusaka and Kitwe city councils, saying the decision is illegal. Last week, Dr Banda suspended the two city councils for three months following illegalities in land allocation. But an associating member, James Ntalasha who is council chairperson for Chibombo District Council under UPND, said the move was unlawful and has since given Dr. Banda a seven-day ultimatum to reverse the decision. Mr Ntalasha said yesterday during a live phone-in radio programme on Power FM in Kabwe that the Minister’s decision would be challenged in the courts of law if not reversed within the given period. He said the suspension of the two city councils was unlawful because that the minister was basing his decision on the Local Government Act and not the constitution. He argued that the Act does not supersede the supreme law of the land. “What has happened to Lusaka and Kitwe should not be tolerated, the suspension is unlawful, if in the next seven days he does not withdraw that decision, will not hesitant to take him to court, not Lusaka City Council, not as Kitwe City Council but as Local Government. Let the courts of law clear the matter,” he said. Mr Ntalasha explained that article 154 of the constitution clearly stated that mayors and council chairpersons were elected by the people not an individual and therefore a minister had no authority to suspect them. He added that the only aspect which puts the minister slightly above the mayors and council chairpersons was the appointment by the Head of State to a ministerial position. “The constitution is very clear article 154 says mayors are elected directly by the people. It's only the people who elected us who can suspend us not an individual and the only thing which gives the minister to be slightly above us is that appointment by the president as the minister,” Mr Ntalasha said. The Chibombo Council chairperson alleged that Dr Banda and his permanent secretary, Bishop ED Chomba lacked understanding of the functions of the local government system. He appealed to President Edgar Lungu to move them to other ministries where they could perform better.