Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa has directed Permanent Secretaries from ministries with devolved functions and provincial heads of departments to with immediate effect stop bypassing established channels of communication.
Mr. Kangwa has observed that some senior government officials are writing directly to officers attached to local authorities which he says is a sign of resistance to change and contradicts the provisions of cabinet office circular number two of 2023 on devolution.
Speaking at the decentralization policy implementation committee meeting in Lusaka today, Mr. Kangwa has also called for innovative strategies and solutions to enhance revenue collection for local authorities which he says remains a challenge. 
Mr. Kangwa adds that attention should also be directed to ensuring transparent and efficient utilization of grants and other resources by local authorities to earmarked programmes to benefit citizens and contribute to the sustainable development of the country.
Mr. Kangwa also disclosed that starting January 2025, five additional functions namely district agriculture services, livestock and fisheries as well as community development and social services will be devolved to local authorities with their matching resources.
Last year, President Hakainde Hichilema launched the revised national decentralization policy which was followed by its implementation of the devolution of exclusive functions from central government to local authorities and K869 million was allocated for the functions.
