2021 was yet another eventful year for local government. While the nation had a sigh of relief from the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic during the second and third quarters of the year as the number of cases started to reduce to manageable levels, the threat of the fourth wave was also looming and this became a reality during the last quarter of the year when the number of cases began to surge. The impact, like in the previous year, continued to destabilize both the economic and social sectors. Local authorities had to endure the brunt of the pandemic as they strived to adapt their operations to the “new normal”.
According to the study undertaken by the Covid-19 Advisory Centre for Local Authorities during the year under review, most local authorities were unable to effectively deliver public services due to various constraints such as inadequate funding, lack of the necessary materials to stem and contain the pandemic as well as being overwhelmed with the workload following the institution of work rotations among public employees by Cabinet Office. The economic downturn, arising from closure or reduced business activities, resulted in a sharp drop in revenue levels as local authorities could not collect budgeted revenues from local taxes, levies, fees and charges.
Despite the foregoing setbacks, it is gratifying to report that, with limited resources, local authorities endeavoured to put in place local responses to supplement government effort, which included the formation of taskforces to conduct community engagement and awareness campaigns, enforcement of regulations and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health (the five golden rules), disinfection and fumigation of public places such as markets, bus stations and schools as well as the integration of Covid-19 protocols in their operations. The work of the Covid-19 Advisory Centre for Local Authorities contributed a great deal to capacitate local authorities with the necessary response tools following the production of the Covid-19 Preparedness, Response and Recovery Manual for local authorities. Sincere gratitude goes to the German Development Agency, through GIZ-D4D Programme and the USAID for meeting the running costs of the Centre whose operations ended in September 2021.
During the year under review, the Association continued to benefit from funding opportunities provided by international cooperating partners, to support member local authorities, through decentralized cooperation programmes. In this regard, the Association continued to carry out various capacity development activities under the Enhancing Local Government Capacity for Development Project (February 2018 – July 2021) co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office the sum of €2,120,000. The overall objective was to enhance local governance for effective, efficient and inclusive service delivery and development in Zambia. The lessons gained and capacities developed by the Project will, with all certainty, continue to assist not only the eleven project local authorities but the entire local government system. Similarly, the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) and Gender Links (GL) partnered with the Association in implementing the ‘Connecting the dots: Local Action for Women’s Political and Economic Empowerment in Southern Africa’ Project with financial support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. The two-year (2019-2021), one million British Pounds (£1000,000) Project, sought to strengthen the political and economic empowerment of women and girls in Southern Africa by interlocking on-the-ground and online networks linked to Centres of Excellence for Gender in Local Government. The Project also came to an end in September 2021. Sincere gratitude goes to the European Union and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office for their generosity in supporting these Projects.
In March 2021, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) partnered with the Association to implement the ‘Partnership for Municipal Innovation-Women in Local Government (PMI-WILL) Project. The Project aim is to improve the quality of life for women and girls and is being rolled out in five countries: Benin, Cambodia, Ghana, Sri Lanka and Zambia with financial support of 27,610,160 Canadian Dollars made available by the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) through FCM. The Project will run from March 2021 to April 2027.
In keeping with our democratic principles, the country went to the polls in August 2021 to elect the President, Members of Parliament, Mayors/Council Chairpersons and Councillors. The general elections which were generally peaceful ushered into office the New Dawn Government under the leadership of Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia. Like in previous times, the Association will work with the government in power in promoting legislation and policies that strengthen the capacity of local authorities in the provision of quality municipal services.
Following the general elections, the Association held its elections during the Joint 65th LGAZ Annual Conference and the 18th AMICAALL General Assembly, for members of the LGAZ Executive Committee and AMICAAL Steering Committee, in November 2021. I was privileged to be elected President of the Association. Let me take this opportunity therefore, to thank the entire membership of the Association on behalf of all the Provincial Vice Presidents, the Chairperson and Members of the AMICAALL Steering Committee, for the confidence reposed in us. We will do everything that is humanly possible to ensure that the ideals and aspirations of the Association are upheld.
Let me end by once again expressing our heartfelt gratitude to our cooperating partners who made it possible for the Association to carry out its programmes with a measure of success. They include, the European Union, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, GIZ-D4D Programme, Global Affairs Canada, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, UN System in Zambia and the National Aids Council. I shouldn’t forget to sincerely thank the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the cordial relations that the Association continues to enjoy.