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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Local Government Finance in Zambia in the Third Republic: Future and Prospects |
Author: | Mukwena, Royson M. |
Year: | 1994 |
Periodical: | Africanus |
Volume: | 24 |
Issue: | 2 |
Pages: | 58-64 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Zambia |
Subjects: | local government local finance Development and Technology Economics and Trade Politics and Government |
Abstract: | On 10 December 1991 multipartyism was reintroduced in Zambia, ushering in what is now referred to as the Third Republic. This led to the promulgation of the Local Government Act of 1991, which replaced the Local Administration Act of 1980. After a short overview of the similarities and differences between the two Acts and of the positive and negative aspects of the 1991 Act, the author turns to the financial problems encountered by local councils in spite of the new Act and discusses two views commonly put forward in this respect. One view is that local authorities are in financial difficulties as a result of inadequate sources of revenue. The other view is that these difficulties are a result of financial mismanagement. A description of the sources of revenue (government grants, rates, rents, charges and fees) and of financial management at the local level shows that there is some truth in both arguments. The conclusion is that something should be done about increasing the resource base of local authorities. At the same time vigorous efforts will have to be made to improve financial management in local authorities. Bibliogr. |