DISCIPLINE NON-PARTISAN
LOCAL Government Service Commission chairman Amos Musonda made an interesting observation on Tuesday which could well explain the rampant indiscipline in local authorities.
According to Mr Musonda, councils could have what he described as “phobia” to discipline erring officers. He said they want to wait for the LGSC to move in.
But this should not be the case. They have all the authority to enforce discipline and ensure that the culprits are punished.
We do not think the LGSC will defend workers who fail to perform. That would be negating its duty.
Mr Musonda, observed that most local authorities had a tendency of failing to mete out discipline against erring officers whenever they were found in the wrong.
Speaking when he opened the technical support meeting for local authorities on the Copperbelt, he said the Commission has noted with concern that most erring officers are left unpunished for their wrong deeds which is not good.
“We wonder why local authorities let the culprits continue working when they clearly know that they are answerable to certain issues,” Mr Musonda wondered. Indeed, council chiefs owe it to the nation to explain why they should be condoning indiscipline which results in shoddy service delivery.
An efficient local government system would improve governance because the public would be able to access services at the local level.
The failure by councils to instill discipline among the workforce defeats the whole purpose of trying to decentralise – which the Patriotic Front government is committed to.
Why should management fail to take disciplinary action against an erring employee if there is enough evidence to warrant taking punitive action?
Maybe the LGSC should instead take disciplinary action against Chief Officers in local authorities to failing to perform. If the senior officials have a “phobia” against instilling discipline then they should be cured from that by removing them.
Just recently, Local Government Permanent Secretary Bishop Ed Chomba complained about workers in councils who were partisan, thus affecting service delivery.
Bishop Chomba, who was in North-Western Province to check on the operations of local authorities, said he was privy to information of poor service delivery as a result of political infiltration.
He made the disclosure during a meeting with Chavuma Town Council management which is controlled by the United Party for National Development.
Surely, why should someone’s political affiliation affect performance at work? It is either one is incompetent hence deserving to be removed than bring politics into one’s work.
This is even the more reason councils must enforce discipline so that all employers realise that their career development hinges on their performance at work and not because they belong to a certain political party.
Zambians should in fact take pride in the country’s multi-party political system that allows people from the political divide to work together.
However, when it comes to work, people must not look at one’s political affiliation to judge performance.
Doing so could be what brings about “phobia” among senior council officials to punish erring workers who they think are politically-connected. It is the residents who suffer in the end.