By John Chola

The Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) has warned of stern action against underperforming and unprofessional council officers across Zambia’s 116 local authorities, as part of renewed efforts to strengthen accountability and improve service delivery, particularly in the management of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Speaking during a joint press briefing in Lusaka, Thursday, LGSC Chairperson Mr. Ackson Sejani, flanked by Permanent Secretary – Technical Services in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Nicholas Phiri, emphasized that the Commission and the Ministry are closely monitoring all councils and will not tolerate inefficiency, misconduct, or mediocrity.

“The Commission is fully aware of what is happening across the country. We are not turning a blind eye to underperformance. Officers must deliver,” said Mr. Sejani.

In a bid to improve professionalism and responsiveness in the local government system, Sejani announced that the Commission has introduced performance contracts for Principal Officers and rolled out an annual staff appraisal system.
He disclosed that these reforms are already bearing fruit, with eight Principal Officers having been demoted based on their performance.

“Several officers have been promoted on merit, while others have faced demotion or dismissal due to poor performance or misconduct,” he said. “To be specific, seven Principal Officers were demoted following a recent appraisal.”

The Commission also outlined new reforms aimed at accelerating the implementation of CDF projects.

Sejani revealed that project approval powers have now been delegated to Provincial Local Government Officers to cut down on bureaucratic delays.

“In addition, the Ministry has directed that all completed CDF projects must be commissioned within 60 days. This is to ensure communities begin benefiting from these investments without unnecessary delays,” he said.

Sejani further urged all public officers in the local government system to conduct themselves with integrity, accountability, and professionalism, noting that the Commission remains committed to restoring public confidence in local governance.

“The Zambian people deserve nothing less,” he stated firmly.

The measures by the Commission and the Ministry form part of a broader national drive to enhance decentralisation and improve service delivery at the grassroots level through better management of public resources and personnel.