Institutional Management carries out executive functions of the council including that of the Council Chairperson and the Council Secretary. Units or sections that report directly to the executive head and not through another directorate are the Internal Audit, Procurement, Public Relations, Legal, ICT Sections.

The Office of the Council Secretary

The office of the Council Secretary serves as the institution’s Chief Executive Officer CEO assumes the oversight responsibility of the day-to-day operations of the Local Authority and spearheading the delivery of developmental programs within the district.

Internal Audit Section

The Internal Audit Section serves as a pivotal mechanism for maintaining operational integrity within the Local Authority. This section is responsible for developing and implementing checks, and controls, conducting risk assessments, and overseeing management procedures both at policy level and operations. Regular audits are carried out to ensure compliance with existing legislation and enhance operational efficiency. The findings from these audits are compiled into comprehensive reports, which are then presented to the executive head of the Local Authority and the Audit Committee for review and recommended action.

Procurement Section

The Procurement Section, as a critical component of the institution, is responsible for overseeing and managing all procurement processes. This section ensures that all purchases of goods and services are conducted per established policies, legislation, and procedures promoting transparency, fairness, and cost-effectiveness. Regular compliance controls are performed to verify adherence to procurement guidelines and to identify areas for improvement. The Procurement Section plays a vital role in supporting the institution’s operations and strategic objectives and in the delivery of the CDF project procurement and delivery.

Public Relations Section

The Public Relations Unit is crucial in managing and disseminating information to the citizens. The unit is responsible for the strategic communication processes that build mutually beneficial relationships with the public as the face and the mouthpiece of the Local Authority.

 

The Public Relations Unit handles various public functions and events for the LA including anticipating, analyzing, and interpreting public opinion, perceptions, and attitudes toward the council. It drafts strategies that use free or paid media, print or electronic to counteract information gaps and conduct sensitizations on council and developmental projects and operations.

 

Responsible for drafting and distributing press releases, planning and executing special public outreach and media relations events, and developing a crisis public relations strategy. It also handles the council’s social media presence and responds to public reviews on social media websites.

 

In essence, the Public Relations Unit is instrumental in maintaining a positive reputation of the council and fostering a strategic relationship with the public, prospective partners, investors, employees, and other stakeholders

Legal Section

The Section of Legal Services is responsible for providing legal advise to the Council. Its core functions include ensuring that the local authority operates within the confines of established laws that govern the local government system.The Department further executes various functions inter alia; drafting commercial contracts, Provision of Legal opinions, processing land applications, trading licenses applications, processing of Certificates of Title and occupancy licenses issued under the Urban and Regional Planning Act No.3 of 2015 of the Laws of Zambia etc.

Information and Communication Technology Section

The section is responsible for providing support services to the operations of the Local Authority in the area of ICT services to enhance service delivery and optimize operations. Some of the key responsibilities are:

  • Design and Administration of Computerized Systems.
  • Provide Training to staff.
  • Research and Development.

The Department is responsible for managing and coordinating policy formulation, preparation of District development plans, disaster management, gender mainstreaming, integrated management information system, and monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the council profile and programmes.

 The Department comprises of six (6) sections as follows:

Town Planning Section:

Coordinates effectively land use planning in order to achieve coordinated development and aesthetically acceptable local environment.

 Socio- Economic section:

Coordinates effectively socio-economic planning in order to enhance implementation of District development plans and programmes.

Community development:

Responsible for all community work and coordinating cooperatives in the district.

Rural water and sanitation section:

Responsible for water supply and behavioral change.

Environmental section:

Ensures effectively the mainstreaming of environmental concerns in the district plans and programmes in order to enhance sustainable development.

Health section:

Responsible for inspecting public premises.

Survey Section:

Coordinates effectively the determination and re-establishment of property boundaries in order to guide land ownership limits.

Departmental Objectives

The Department wishes to accomplish its functions through the following Departmental objectives:

To plan, control and coordinate development in the district.

To coordinate effectively the monitoring and evaluation of District development programmes in order to facilitate implementation of appropriate interventions.

To manage effectively the implementation of performance management system in order to improve and sustain performance.

To spur development in the district.

To work closely with the gatekeepers on all developmental projects in the district.

The Human Resource and Administration Department is responsible for general administration, human resources management and development, office superintendence, procurement services, transport and records management, public relations, security and community policing as well as printing and prison services. It comprises of four (4) sections:

  1. Human Resources Section, is responsible for human resources management and development, conditions of services, Industrial relations, records management and Leave days management
  2. Administration Section: Is responsible for transport management, public relations, committee work and security services
  3. Committee Section; Is responsible for generating and managing all Council minutes and records.
  4. Registry section; Will be responsible for maintaining and managing correspondence within and outside the council.

Departmental Objectives:

The Department wishes to accomplish its functions through the following Departmental objectives:

To ensure that the image of the institution is favorable

To give guidance on human resource related matters and industrial relations

To offer adequate security services to all council properties

To provide a conducive working environment

To enable efficient records management for use in decision making

To procure, disburse and store goods and services as per requirements and availability of funds

To ensure that all Council finances and assets are correctly assessed and of Audit reports prepared.

The Finance Department is responsible for revenue mobilization, accounting and management of financial resources, investment and valuation of property within the council area. It has four sections as follows:

  1. Revenue: The section is responsible for effective and efficient collection of revenue due to the council for easy operation of the council.
  2. Accountancy: this section is responsible for, management of budget preparations process and maintenance of books of accounts for prudent utilisation of resources and timely production of financial reports for both internal and external users in order to facilitate decision making
  3. Technical: Coordinating the timely production of financial reports for both internal and external users in order to facilitate decision making and effective management and maintenance of the assets register in order to determine the value of and safeguard council assets.
  4. Expenditure: This section is responsible for; effective monitoring of expenditure in order to ensure compliance with the council’s budget and effective management of the payroll in order to ensure that expenditure on personal emoluments is contained within the budget limits. Departmental objectives:

The Department wishes to accomplish its functions through the following Departmental objectives:

To record and report all financial transactions in compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as professional standards and council policies and procedures.

 To ensure all revenue due to the council are billed and collected timely.

The Engineering Department is responsible for rehabilitation, maintenance and construction of infrastructure and provision of engineering services for the Council.

The Department wishes to accomplish its functions through the following Departmental objectives:

To provide mechanical and electrical services as well as water and sanitation services.

To be responsible for construction and maintenance of institutional buildings, architectural works, roads and drainage systems including highways.

To be responsible for firefighting and training, fire prevention and research, ambulances and rescue services.