GOVERNMENT has released more than K3 billion to Kitwe City Council (KCC) to go towards the dismantling of outstanding retirees' benefits and council operations.

And acting Local Government and Housing Minister, Bradford Machila has hailed Kitwe's development projects.

Speaking when he officiated at the installation ceremony of Kitwe Mayor Stephen Chipungu and his deputy, Chileshe Bweupe at the civic centre yesterday, Mr Machila said it was Government's desire to ease councils' statutory indebtedness.

The minister disclosed that as part of its obligation to support councils, Government recently released K2, 4 billion to Kitwe council

for payment of retirees benefits and another K600 million as general grants for its operations.

In Ndola, Mr Machila urged councillors and the council management to always prioritise development activities and increased standards of service delivery.

Mr Machila said the office of the mayor and the council management played a strategic leadership role in terms of effective public service delivery and projecting the overall image of the city.

Mr Machila was guest of honour during the Installation of Ndola Mayor Charles Chiwala and his deputy John Chanda at the Civic Centre grounds.

He said the Government was determined to use initiatives such as the Urban Road Rehabilitation Project to rehabilitate a total stretch of 20.35 kilometres.

And in Mufulira Copperbelt Minister, Mwansa Mbulakulima said when he officiated at the installation ceremony of Mayor Thomson Ngulube and his deputy Andrew Msiska that Government was not sitting idle on the bad state of the road network particularly the Mufulira-Sabina and Mufulira-Ndola roads.

Mr Mbulakulima assured scores of people that attended the installation ceremony that funding of road infrastructure improvement would be provided through the Road Development Agency (RDA).

The minister also said he would to take it upon himself to ensure the provincial administration lobbied for quick funding for rehabilitation of the deplorable Mufulira-Sabina and Mufulira-Ndola roads.

And ZANIS reports that Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister, Lwipa Puma has reiterated the Government's commitment to offering grants to local authorities across the country to enhance their operations and service delivery to the community.

The deputy minister has, however, urged the councils to broaden their resource base unlike relying only on Government grants if theywereto perform well.

Speaking during the installation ceremony of Chililabombwe Mayor Ben Mpande on Monday, Dr Puma counselled the local authority to respect the views of the community and other stakeholders on development issues.

He urged the newly installed mayor and his deputy, Clesiano Kafula to live to the people's expectations as their election,which was held in accordance with the local Government democratic tenets, was an indication of the confidence and trust that was entrusted in them.