ALL councillors including Mayor Aggrey Njekwa at the Livingstone City Council have been suspended for gross indiscipline.

Local Government and Housing Minister Emerine Kabanshi announced the suspension at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday.

She said the local authority had failed to discharge its functions and that councillors abrogated the law by suspending Town Clerk Vivien Chikoti and two chief officers.

Director of public health George Kumoyo and assistant director of engineering Renny Shindelele were suspended along with Ms Chikoti by a full council meeting on Tuesday.

Ms Chikoti and the two chief officers have since been reinstated.

Ms Kabanshi said the mandate to discipline the principal and chief officers rested with the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC).

Ms Kabanshi appointed Alex Chola as the Local Government Administrator for a period of 90 days to discharge functions of councillors in accordance with Section 88 of the Local Government Act.

A full council meeting on Tuesday resolved to suspend the town clerk and the two officers.

The minister urged all councils to adhere to the provisions of the Local Government Act, Cap 28 (1) of the laws of Zambia under the Local Government Amendment Act.

"The town clerk and the two officers would continue to serve as officers for the Livingstone City Council as the decision to override the functions of the Local Government Service Commission by the council.