Action Speaks Louder than Words

The five District Councils that are in partnership with MS-Zambia have formed a network which successfully advocated for the provision of a legal framework for Area Development Committees (ADCs) during the Local Government Association of Zambia’s (LGAZ) 2005 Annual Conference.

By Jesper Elias Lauridsen Development Worker, Kafue District Council

From 20th to 24th May 2005, Kafue, Luangwa, Mambwe, Petauke and Samfya District Council participated in the MS-Zambia Support and Training Provision phase II workshop.

One objective of the workshop was to improve the advocacy skills of Council members, particularly in connection to the implementation of the National Decentralisation Policy.

At the workshop the participants, who comprised Council Chairmen, District Planning Officers, ADC members and Development Workers, identified key advocacy issues, -goals and -objectives in connection with the implementation of the National Decentralisation Policy. After plenary discussions, the delegates agreed to address the insufficient legislation related to the decentralisation policy with particular emphasis on Area Development Committees.

Indeed, if ADCs are to function as sub-district level institutions that co-ordinate the local development planning and implementation process within the ward and furthermore provide a developmental link between the ward and the district, a legal framework must be put in place.

Advocay issue

An advocacy issue is the problem or situation an advocacy group seeks to rectify. The network of District Councils agreed on the following advocacy issue: Lack of legal framework for ADCs. An advocacy goal is the long-term result that the network is seeking. The identified goal was to have ADCs that are legally instituted through an act of Parliament. An advocacy objective is a short term target that contributes to achieving the long term goal. The network set the objectives to:

i) to persuade more than 50 % of MP’s to enact a law that will outline the operations of the ADCs by the end of 2006 and

ii) create awareness among key stakeholders on the need to include the ADCs operations in the Constitution.

A workshop that led to action

Personally, I have attended numerous workshops that deal with important policy issues in a Zambian context.

However, I have often experienced that these forums only tackle the issues on an abstract level, not setting clear goals on how to practically address the matters after the delegates have departed. Fortunately, the spirit of this particular MS STP II workshop was that action speaks louder than words. Consequently, the Council representatives agreed to take advantage of the LGAZ 2005 Annual Conference and advocate for ADCs to be legally instituted through an act of Parliament. In practical terms, the Council Chairmen were assigned to write to LGAZ and urge them to address the matter. Additionally, Kafue District Council submitted an advocacy report concerning the output of the workshop.

Advocacy issue debated

In line with the advocacy work by the five MS Councils, the issue of providing a legal framework for the ADCs was constantly debated throughout the LGAZ Annual Conference and advocated for at three levels.

First, since the fellow delegates recognised the importance of a legal framework, the matter was highlighted in the ‘Livingstone Declaration on Decentralisation’ which states that: “the Government is immediately to introduce a comprehensive decentralisation Bill to Parliament to facilitate the implementation of the policy, and the bill shall include the following: (i) repeal and/or amend the existing legislation that provides for the existence and functioning of specified Government Line Ministries at district level (ii) provide for the establishment of sub-district structures (ADCs) within the Decentralisation Act.

Secondly, the Decentralisation Secretariat is also dealing with the issue in the draft 5-year implementation plan for decentralisation which is currently being discussed with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. On that note, Hon. Sylvia Masebo wished to consult the Councils and receive their contributions on the same.

Thirdly, on behalf of all delegates, the Council Chairman of Kafue District Council, Hon. E. M. Mwiinga, stated in his vote of thanks to the Republican Vice President, Hon. Lupando Mwape, that ADCs should be legally instituted through an Act of Parliament.

When evaluating the advocacy process which started at the MS STP II workshop and temporarily culminated at the 2005 LGAZ Annual Conference one must conclude that advocacy really is an effective tool to influence decision-makers at Central Government Level.