Zambia - Local government



Zambia is divided into nine provinces (including the special province of Lusaka), administered by officials appointed by the central government. Each province is further divided into districts, presided over by district secretaries. Around 55% of Zambians live in towns and cities, giving Zambia one of the highest urbanization rates in Africa. Lusaka has a city council, and the other large towns have councils or town management boards; most townships, however, are directly administered by government officers. Local elections in urban areas are organized on a ward system with universal adult suffrage. Local urban authorities can levy taxes, borrow money, and own and manage housing projects. They control roads, water, power, town planning, health facilities, and other public services within their areas.

Administrative districts lying outside municipal and township areas are governed by rural councils, consisting of members elected by universal adult suffrage and a minority of nominated members, mainly chiefs, appointed by the under minister of the interior. Councils have evolved from the former native authorities, which were constituted on a tribal basis. The rural councils have frequently cut across African societal boundaries in order to establish larger and more viable units. The functions and powers of rural councils are similar to those of the urban local authorities.

Also read article about Zambia from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
Sophie
The Local Governmentis under the ministry of local government and housing and there are three types of councils namely city,municipal and district councils and four city councils.
What are the problems facing local authorities in Zambia today and what are the roles of decentralization in the national development?
How many local governments are there in Zambia? Thanks
4
nyasha nyatondo
DOES LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ZAMBIA RECEIVE ANY GOVERNMENT TRANSFERS FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT? AND IF IT DOES IN WHAT PROPORTION?. ARE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ZAMBIA AUTONOMOUS?.WHAT IS THE REVENUE SHARING SYSTEM LIKE?
5
makuba mufana
I would love to have copies of all the local govt acts and amendments since 1968 to date. thank you.
6
Mwati Kachindila
What are the powers of the local authorities in zambia
7
s.twaambo
what are the problems facing the local authorities in zambia. what are the advantages of decentralization
8
charles chikulu
How does the council manage waste in the country if we see all rubish around the cities, Do they have a policy attached
9
Ndhlovu Lingson
I think that council should be empowered by law to be autonomous in order to be creative to find ways, creative ways of accumulating their own funds apart from those which are handed to them by central government so that they can fund certain of their own projects. This however, means that the federal system of government should be embraced in order to ensure that central govern has as little of interference as possible. In this way every council will be judged against another in terms of performance. When councils are autonomous and accountable for their own performance, they can plan strategically and fulfill these plan. They can then handle this issue of filthy towns and other observed shortcomings.
10
Chipili kapema
What is the importance of local government administration in zambia?Does local government administration matter in developing countries?
Are the local government leaders elected or appointed? Are they autonomous? And how many local government are there in Zambia?
12
CHILESHE MARGARET
HOW IS PLANNING DONE ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL IN ZAMBIA?
13
Kalo jr
What are the roles of the local council and what is the percentage of the Central district funds? How does the council raise money?
14
mule james
How can you describe the provision of social services by the local authorities in zambia?
15
Luyando
What measures does the goverment put in place to avoid such cases?
16
funkwe sembulo
may anybody please sent me the history of Local governments in Zambia from 1965-90
17
ignatius
Compare and contrast between local government and central government in both unitary states and federal states?
18
maya
Discuss the challenges facing local government in Zambia and provide comprehensive recommendations to address them.
19
Chileshe mwaba
I would like to know ..What is th nature of local government
20
CHARITY MUMBA
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the local government human resource to be controlled by the local government service commission as well as the advantages of it being controlled by individual local authorities.
21
CATHERINE CHANSA
How did Local government develop in Zambia and can a preview be given of the same?
22
Isaac Nsashila
Outline various forms of control which the central government uses to monitor the conduct of local authorities
The Zambian government should consider re empowering the local government so as to improve the cash flow at the local councils. It is not right that RATSA a foreign company comes to take over responsibilities which should have been for the local authorities. Sometime in the past , the driver`s licences were issued by the local councils at their civic centers and revenue was well realised. But now the coming of RATSA on board has financially disabled the local authorities. RATSA has taken over part of the Zambia police traffic operations as well as those for the local authorities.

Send RATSA away the way they have been denied in other African countries. We can do better if national self reliance is prioritised.

Why is government entertaining RATSA which is a South African private company? Does it mean one of our leaders is a major share holder?

Why are we embracing the art of being poor?
24
Namushi Nathaniel
How effective is the Local Government Act in the Management of Local Authorities in Zambia? I am asking this because Local Authorities haven't been performing well of late and mos of the blame has been shouldered by them for their poor performance. How is government ensuring that the provisions of the Local Government Act are put into effect.
25
Dalitso Njovu
The council seems to be restricted in terms of revenue collection, how can the Lusaka city council be empowered to capture other forms of revenue

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: