6 June 2008
editorial
Ndola — IT is now time for our civic authorities to rise and take the challenge of spearheading the development process throughout the country as envisioned by the Government.
As organs directly involved with the people at the grassroots level, this is an important responsibility for them.
It is at the lower levels that the growth process has to be seen to be working and the trickle-down effect should be seen to be anchored.
However, this role for our councils may prove elusive as long as managements in these entities fail to put in place important requisites for the process to take place.
Development and the effective provision of services to the people need to be well planned to ensure that the objectives envisaged stand a realistic chance to succeed.
Budgeting is a key instrument for planning in any organisation.
Infact, a budget is so crucial that in some cases, no activity can begin until it is presented and approved by relevant authorities.
Apart from providing a guide to the activities and expenditure of an organisation or enterprises, a budget is also a starting point for keeping tabs on the usage of financial resources.
This aspect is crucial when public institutions like councils are involved.
This is because as public institutions, their expenditure is financed from taxes and the Government would like to see to it that such money is put to intended purposes.
This is why it is alarming that a number of councils have been caught out by the Minister of Local Government after presenting budgets that are below par.
We would like to believe that in this era, councils have the necessary capacity to be able to put together a budget that would pass the test.
It is worrying that glaring lapses could be exposed at this otherwise basic yet crucial stage of the councils' functions.
The question that may come to mind is how much more critical lapses are out there in the functioning of our local authorities.
Some guidelines that the ministry requires to be implemented in council budgets are clearly spelt out and councils are aware of these requirements year in and year out.
It is puzzling therefore that these guidelines are not followed by some councils.
The provision of social services is one of the most important areas of the operations of councils.
In many local authorities, basic amenities like water, sanitation and roads have not been provided satisfactorily.
Yet, according to the ministry's guidelines, 40 per cent of the council budgets should go towards the municipal service delivery.
It is disappointing too that among the local authorities caught out in this failure are city councils.
By nature of their sizes and asset base, city councils are potentially viable economic growth points and need support mechanisms to harness this growth.
Some of the district councils also have the potential to grow as long as their development aspirations are well-formulated and executed.
It is our hope that for subsequent budgets, our councils would do better.
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