By Jane Chanda
Kamwala ward councilor Mainda Simataa says local governance can help the central government in addressing the high cost of living if resources were appropriated properly.
In an interview over the weekend, Simataa said while the central government was responsible for addressing the high cost of living, local government could play a role in mitigating its impact on vulnerable communities, through the enhancement of social programmes.
The councilor expressed concern over the misappropriation of resources amounting to millions, which if corrected, could enable the council to initiate social responsibility programs to alleviate the suffering of ward residents.
“We have the capacity to generate resources to support Central government programs, but we need to address the issue of misappropriation of funds,” said Simataa.
He also emphasised the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the high cost of living, involving both central and local government initiatives.
Simataa said councilors may not have the mandate to implement policies to address the cost of living, but could empower vulnerable communities through various government interventions.
He cited the Food for Work program, which provided food assistance to vulnerable community members in exchange for work done in the community, as one such initiative.
Simataa also mentioned the Social Cash Transfer program, which currently benefited a limited number of vulnerable individuals and families, and appealed for its expansion to cover more people.
He also highlighted the potential of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to empower local entrepreneurs and increase money circulation in the community.
