• WDCs are a key component of the constituency development operations.
• They do not have a permanent place where people can find them.
• Government should ensure that the WDCs take up the prominent role they deserve.
Zambian Association of Citizen Contractors (ZACCO) has called on government to attach great importance to the Ward Development Committees (WDCs) as they are a key component of the constituency development operations.
Speaking to Money FM News, Association General Secretary Danny Simumba said it is sad that the WDCs have been neglected under the Local Government Administration governance system.
Mr. Simumba observed that despite important role they play in the development of communities, WDCs do not have a permanent place where people can find them and present financial proposals on developments needed in their wards.
“We are perturbed at the neglect of the Ward Development Committees under the Local Government Administration governance system. They are neglected to the extent that they operate in a nomadic manner. They do not have a permanent place where people can find them and present proposals on the developments needed in their wards but these committees are always mobile.”
“This is not the way we should handle a committee as important as WDCs, we need to attach great importance. This is where things start from, now if you have a committee which does not even have a cubical where to operate from, how do you expect proposals to be handled with the confidentiality they deserve,” he wondered.
He stated that this committee is very key especially that government has increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation to K28.3 million in 2023, hence the need for Ministry of Local Government to ensure that the WDCs take up the prominent role they deserve.
“If anything this committee is very key especially that the President and his government have pumped in colossal sums of CDF to the tune of K28.3 million, this means that this committee is important in the development because it is the interface with the community. Government should ensure that the WDCs take up the prominent role they deserve,” he added.
