ZCLU SAYS LOCAL GOVT MINISTER BREACHED LAW OVER SIMON MWEWA MARKET RENAMING
The Zambian Civil Liberties Union -ZCLU-says Local Government and Rural Development Minister Gift Sialubalo acted outside the law by attempting to reverse a Lusaka City Council decision to rename Simon Mwewa market.
ZCLU Executive Director Isaac Mwanza tells Phoenix News that while the organization does not support the decision to rename the market, the minister does not have powers to overturn a lawful resolution passed by the full council.
Mr. Mwanza says the minister’s action goes beyond the powers given under Section 77 of the Local Government Act, adding that the same law cited by the minister clearly states that any lawful action already taken cannot be withdrawn or altered through ministerial intervention, explaining that only the full council has the authority to pass another resolution reversing its earlier decision.
He explains that section 77 of the Local Government Act was intended to deal with unlawful or irregular decisions and not to give the minister general powers to reverse council policy decisions because they are unpopular or politically sensitive.
This follows a decision by the local government minister to revoke the Lusaka City Council’s resolution to rename Simon Mwewa Lane Market to HH Lumumba market.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mwanza has urged parliament to carefully examine the laws currently under consideration, especially the Electoral Process Amendment Bill and the Public Gatherings Bill.
PN