Hakainde Hichilema Opens Zambia Devolution Support Programme and National Decentralisation Policy

Today, 30 May, President Hakainde Hichilema officially inaugurated the National Decentralisation Policy and the Zambia Devolution Support programme.

Designed to improve service delivery by granting local authorities and institutions greater responsibilities, the two initiatives were launched simultaneously at the Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute, located in the Chongwe district of Lusaka province.

Robert Kamalata, the Lusaka province Permanent Secretary, yesterday briefed press on the two schemes. Mr. Kamalata explained that the National Decentralisation Policy was in line with Cabinet Circular 2 of April 2023, which prioritised shifting central government functions to local authorities across Zambia.

 In order for local authorities to better carry out roles traditionally undertaken by central government, human resources from government departments have been migrated to local level, Mr. Kamalata confirmed.

 While at the Training Institute, President Hichilema inspected stands for Constituency Development Fund (CDF) beneficiaries and other implementing stakeholders, before returning to State House to meet with the United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary General Jean Lacroix.