COPPERBELT Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima has commended the people of Luanshya for their tenacity which has resulted in the town maintaining its status as the Copperbelt's cleanest despite being hit by the global credit crunch.

Mr Mbulakulima said in Luanshya yesterday that the town was capable of registering sustainable development if the politicians worked together.

He said this during the installation ceremony for Mayor Andrew Kayekesi and deputy Mayor, Gladwell Lungu at the Luanshya Civic Centre grounds.

The fact that the ruling party and the opposition had the same number of councillors was a testimony that the electorate were not interested in partisan politics but wanted to see their town developed.

Speaking earlier, Mr Kayekesi said the council's social services delivery programmes had been adversely affected by the closure of the mines.

He said the mining sector was one of the largest contributors to council's budget and 43 per cent of the budget was devoted to service provision.

"Luanshya Municipal Council is finding it difficult to efficiently and effectively discharge its mandate to the residents because most of them were unemployed such that they were not contributing to the council's advancement through personal levy," he said.

In Solwezi, Mwajimambwe Ward councillor, Peter Kikatula has been installed as Solwezi mayor for a second term, with Government stressing that local government is an important institution in service delivery to the community.

North-Western Provincial Minister, Joseph Mulyata said during the installation at Solwezi Civic Centre yesterday that Government was committed to supporting local government, as it was key.

"The local Government being an institution closer to the people is better placed to effectively act as a mirror of the central government for service delivery to the people," Mr Mulyata said.

He said financial management in the local authorities was key to the successful running of councils and called on the officers and councillors to exercise prudence in their work.

And Mayor Kikatula, who was installed with Obadiah Nsonge as his deputy, thanked councillors for the confidence they had shown in his leadership re-electing him for the second term and called for continued support.

"As people of Solwezi, we cannot afford to lag behind in development; am appealing to all residents to contribute in their own way if meaningful development is to be realised," Mr Kikatula said.

In Chipata, Eastern Province Minister Isaac Banda said Government attached great importance in upholding the welfare of its people and will continue to support developmental projects in its constituencies through the constituency development funds (CDF).

Mr Banda said this yesterday at the installation ceremony of the Mayor, Malven Zulu, and Gideon Thole, deputy mayor of Chipata respectively for the 2009 to 2010 period.

Mr Banda said frantic efforts were being made by the Government to re-introduce the local government service commission which was currently been discussed by Cabinet and the filling of vacancies in management positions.

He assured the gathering the decentralisation process had reached an advanced stage.

The minister who is Lumezi Constituency Member of Parliament said the policy is aimed at transferring power and resources to province and district levels.

In Livingstone, Presidential Affairs Minister, Ronald Mukuma warned that Government will take stern action on any council that will be found using the procured hearses for un intended purposes and collecting crop levy.

Mr Mukuma said this at the installation ceremony of the Livingstone Mayor Joram Mwinda and his deputy Aggrey Njekwa that Government was disappointed to learn that some councils were not using the vehicles for their intended purposes.

"We are disappointed as Government to learn that some councils are not using these vehicles for their intended purposes. Many a times these vehicles have been seen being used for personal errands, a situation that is highly unacceptable.

"I therefore wish to sound a warning that the Government will not stand by and watch the situation degenerate in the usage of these vehicles and any council which will be found wanting in this regard will be severely punished," Mr Mukuma said.