Government says alleged misconduct by a officials does not represent the general behaviour or affect the integrity of all local authorities in the country.
Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary for administration Maambo Hamaundu says government does not consider the conduct or performances of all local authorities to be substandard based on a few erring individuals.
“We have 116 local authorities across the country and there are a lot of positive things that are happening around and there is a lot of good behaviour, so we would not want to drive a narrative where purported misbehaviour by one or two individuals is the general case for all local authorities across the country,” Hamaundu said.
Hamaundu says government will not interfere or block law enforcement agencies to conduct investigations against officials or councils suspected of unlawful practices.
“As government we have told ourselves to say we will not stop investigative agencies or wings to carry out their work and carry it out properly. If one is suspected of being corrupt the ACC, DEC, the police or whichever relevant law enforcement agency will carry out their investigation without any interference,” he said.
He added that government or local council officials who are suspected of engaging in crime are bound to step down from their roles to pave way for investigations if need be.
“If at all one’s stay in office will hinder the investigation then at that point it is incumbent upon oneself to step aside and allow for investigations to be done and if one does not step aside then the appointing authority will use its prerogative to tell them to step aside,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hamaundu has stressed that there are some individuals who are on the agenda to spread the narrative that all local authorities are tainted with corruption and other unlawful practices.
“Sometimes it is also about what people want to drive to members of the public. Sometimes people want to speak for the people to say they are losing integrity,” he said.
Hamaundu was speaking this morning in reaction to a press query on Diamond TV about government’s position on the integrity of local authorities following the suspension of the Chongwe Municipal Council as well as ongoing investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against Livingstone city Mayor Constance Mulebai over alleged corruption and abuse of office.
