Rufunsa Town Council has received a team of officers from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as part of a pre-assessment exercise aimed at facilitating the appointment of selected local authorities as Local Planning Authorities under a national initiative to enhance on-source revenue collection and improve service delivery.
The pre-assessment forms part of a broader programme being implemented by the Ministry to strengthen the capacity of local authorities across the country. Rufunsa Town Council is among the selected local authorities earmarked for the initial phase of the initiative.
The programme is anchored on government efforts to improve local governance systems and increase locally generated revenue to support effective and sustainable service delivery in districts. The initiative is also linked to the Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI) under the Zambia Devolution Support Program, which seeks to enhance institutional performance and strengthen decentralisation efforts among local authorities.
Leading the assessment team were Chilombo Hamambwe, Principal Planner, and Chippo Chongo, Senior Planner at the Lusaka Province Planning Authority. The officers engaged council management and technical staff in assessing the local authority’s preparedness and institutional capabilities required for appointment as a Local Planning Authority.
The pre-assessment exercise is intended to identify the existing capacities, operational structures, and planning systems within the council that will support effective implementation of planning functions once the authority is formally appointed.
Speaking during the engagement, the visiting officers highlighted the importance of strengthening local authorities to enable them to effectively regulate land use, planning processes, and development control, which are key components in improving revenue generation and ensuring orderly development within districts.
The Ministry has indicated that activities under the programme are expected to commence during the second quarter of 2026, with selected councils benefiting from technical support and capacity-building interventions aimed at preparing them for the new responsibilities.
The development marks an important milestone for Rufunsa Town Council as it continues positioning itself to enhance service delivery, strengthen local governance, and improve revenue mobilisation for the benefit of the people of Rufunsa District.
