MULENGA SATA IS NEW LGAZ PRESIDENT

LUSAKA Mayor Mulenga Sata is the new Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) president.
Mr Sata was elected as president after beating his rival, former Livingstone mayor Aggrey Njekwa from United Party for National Development (UPND) by 11 votes in the elections held at Kansashi Hotel in Solwezi yesterday.
The Republican President’s son polled 47 votes, while his rival polled 36 from 89 voters that participated in this year’s election.
Ndola Mayor Samuel Munthali despite withdrawing his candidature from the race polled seven votes.
Meanwhile, Mr Sata has called for sustainable development in local authorities countrywide through the generation of revenue from the available economic activities in the area of operation.
“Those in Chipata you can collect bicycle levy, in Mazabuka you can collect sugar cane levy and those in Chongwe if you want you can collect plane levy from the upcoming airport,” he said.
Former association president, Daniel Chisenga congratulated the new executive and called on them to promote sustainable development in local authorities.
Mr Chisenga also called on Mr Sata and his executive to continue the advocacy for improved conditions of service for councillors.
LGAZ chairperson John Kabungo urged the new executive to accommodate all those that had lost the election and promote gender equality.
“There is too much gender imbalances in the LGAZ and we are worried about it. I am urging all of you councillors to encourage female members to take interest so that they can come here and be part of us,” he said.
Others elected were Zakiel Mbao as honourary treasurer for the association. Francis Bwalya, Bellard Makwemba, Jailosi Phiri and Peter Kikatula who went through unopposed as chapter vice presidents for Northern, Southern, Eastern and North-Western provinces.
Maybin Kalambwe for Central and Moses Chongo for Luapula Province also went through unopposed while Jordan Mwansa was elected vice president for Copperbelt after beating two other contenders.
Bright Tombi Tombi was elected vice president for Western Province.
Gibson Sinkala was elected as chapter vice president for Lusaka Province while Chaswe Ronald Katongo is now vice president for Muchinga Province.