Zambezi Town Council has conducted a one-day orientation workshop for Zonal Election Officers ahead of the upcoming establishment of new Ward Development Committees (WDCs) across the district.
Speaking during the training held in Zambezi today, Town Council Acting Director of Planning, who also serves as District HIV/AIDS Coordinator, Mwiinga Chimuka, urged participants to embrace utmost transparency during the formation of the new WDCs.
Mr Chimuka emphasised the critical role that Ward Development Committees play in ensuring that government programmes and community priorities, particularly projects funded under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), are effectively implemented.
He stated that WDCs serve as vital community-level structures bridging the gap between local authorities and residents, providing a direct platform for citizens to identify development priorities and communicate their needs.
Mr Chimuka cautioned that any malpractice, bias, or lack of integrity during the election process could undermine public confidence and compromise local development efforts.
He, however, stated that the orientation is meant to equip Zonal Election Officers with the necessary knowledge, skills, procedures, and statutory guidelines required to effectively manage and facilitate the election process in their respective zones.
Mr Chimuka further urged the officers to maintain neutrality and strictly follow the established legal framework to ensure that the outcome truly reflects the will of the local communities.
He further mentioned that following the orientation, trained officers who are drawn from various government departments will be deployed across all 91 zones in Zambezi District to conduct the elections.
“The establishment of the new Ward Development Committees follows the dissolution of the previous committees in line with Section 36 of the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019, which provides for the conduct of WDC elections by local authorities within two months after a general election,” he added.
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