By Isaac Zulu
Kapiri Mposhi district commissioner Francis Hasalama says the Central government has devolved the functions of some ministries to the Local Authorities as a way of bringing services closer to the people.
Hasalama also urged devolved Ministries’ staff to change their attitude towards decentralization and start reporting to the Local Authority.
He explained that the Secretary to Cabinet on March 27, 2023 issued Circular No.2 of 2023 to announce that the Central government had devolved eight functions under Ministries of Transport and Logistics, Youth, Sport and Arts, Tourism, Home Affairs and Internal Security, Health, Fisheries and Livestock to the Local Authorities.
Speaking when he officially opened the devolution sensitization meeting organized by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning in Kapiri Mposhi, Hasalama said devolution was here to stay.
“Devolution is here to stay and I expect you who have been devolved to change your attitude towards this process. I expect you to start reporting to the Council so that we can work as a team. I don’t expect you to remain behind,” he said.
Hasalama said the Ministry of Finance and National Planning would soon be releasing funds to Local Authorities for devolved Ministries hence the need for staff from these ministries to show commitment towards decentralization programmes.
And director of finance at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Mordsen Ruveve, said the budget line for the devolved departments shall, in the interim, continue to be under the parent ministries.
“The parent Ministries shall initiate the disbursement process through the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) and the disbursements shall be transmitted directly to the Sector Grant Account of the Local Authorities,” said Ruveve.
He said in line with the Public Finance Management Act, the Secretary to the Treasury and the Accountant General shall recommend the placement, rotation and seconding of accounting staff from Central Government to Local Authorities subject to the approval of the Civil Service Commission.
He said all accounting officers serving under devolved functions are attached to the accounts department of Local Authorities in their respective substantive positions and the accounting officers shall be stationed in their respective districts and shall continue to draw their salaries from Central government through PMEC, in line with existing terms and conditions of service for their substantive positions.
