Print this page

CK Council for Improved Service Delivery

Mchombo Mchombo - pic by Christopher Sande

Authorities at Chikwawa District Council have expressed optimism that conditions and services will likely improve following a five day hands on training on review of service and conditions.

The Local Government Accountability and Performance (LGAP) was engaging directors from various departments under Chikwawa district council to review the terms and conditions of services for the council.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday afternoon acting Chief Administrative Officer Leonard Mchombo said the training was quite necessary looking at the fact that things keep on changing with councils as back bone of implementing development targeting rural areas.

"Such a review was done some time back and some things have changed overtime ranging from work diversity, human rights, pre-existing labor rules among many others.

"As this happens, we also need to move with time in order to change the terms and conditions of service. I am hoping that the exercise will help increase performance through attracting the right people and also grades being improved," said Mchombo

On his part, one of the participants, Donald Ghambi who is also Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources under Chikwawa district council said the training was timely owing to the fact that the devolved sectors need to be aligned to the decentralized code of ethics and management.

"The training is very important because it has touched on conditions of Service for various Officers, HR guidelines with the outcome of conditions of Service for Chikwawa district Council. I feel proud to be part of these proceedings and I am sure they will improve coordination and implementation of various programs to people of Chikwawa," said Ghambi.

One of the facilitators, Hastings Dowe who is Director of Administration under Blantyre District Council said councils are like local governments on their own adding that it was important for the councils to adapt the said terms of services and conditions as they will help improve transparency on handling human resources matters.

"Councils are mandated to look at the development issues and for the development to be delivered well in councils we need to have well motivated staff even handling of grievances of staff must be fairly handled by the management.

"As of now there are a number of councils developing their conditions and services and the general status of these is that they have been sent to the ministry of local government and rural development for quality assurance," he said.

Dowe said Chikwawa has just started and with the commitment shown to this far will catch up.

 

 "We are receiving good support from various partners with the aim of seeing the goals achieved," said Dowe, on the other part commending LGAP for the support.

Read 1621 times
Login to post comments