ACTING Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska has implored councils to improve their service delivery in line with the Patriotic Front (PF) Government's vision.

Dr Msiska said town clerks, council secretaries and other council workers should develop a positive mindset that would in turn lead to effective delivery of services and foster national development.

He was speaking in Lusaka yesterday during a one-day sensitisation meeting of town clerks, council secretaries, and directors of finance and district treasurers from local authorities countrywide.

The meeting focused on implementation of harmonised salaries and conditions of service for local authority workers.

Dr Msiska said council officials should remove the "poverty mindset" and ponder on effective avenues aimed at helping the Government to champion developmental objectives to improve people's lives.

"Council authorities should invest in the process of change and have a clear vision with action plans and deliver effective services to people in their areas," he said.

Dr Msiska said the harmonised salaries and conditions of service should help motivate local authority workers.

Earlier, Local Government and Housing Permanent Secretary Bernard Namachila warned that Government would not tolerate any form of abuse.

"Casual approach to management of financial resources may lead to disciplinary action by the Local Government Service Commission," he said.

He said the meeting was important as it served as a consultative process to clarify interpretation and implementation of the new harmonised salaries and conditions of service.

Local Government Service Commission Commissioner Dauti Phiri said the Commission would ensure discipline was upheld among local authority employees.

Giving a vote of thanks, Chingola Town Clerk George Mulenga assured that councils countrywide would not frustrate Government's efforts in fostering development.