Municipalities must prove their competence for decentralised functions

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Municipalities must prove their competence for decentralised functions

9:06 CAT | 29 Jul 2016

Notícias (file photo) / Carmelita Namashulua, minister of State Administration and Public Service

Minister of State Administration and Public Service Carmelita Namashulua says that the executive is not interested in battling municipalities over the transfer of functions under ongoing decentralisation process in Mozambique.

Namashulua, who was speaking in Maputo at the seventh session of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Decentralisation (DFIG), explained that these bodies are only required to prove to the decentralising body that they have the necessary ability to perform the decentralised functions.

In the ongoing decentralisation process, functions and powers in the areas of education, culture, health, industry and commerce have been transferred to the City of Maputo. Also, and at the initiative of the government, the cities of Maputo, Matola, Xai-Xai, Inhambane, Chimoio, Tete, Nampula, Nacala and Quelimane have taken over the management of urban public transport.

According to Namashulua, as the decentralising body, the state must be sure that decentralised jurisdiction will be executed in the same or better manner than before by the body that takes it over.

“If the municipality claims the transfer of powers, it must comply with the same rigor in the activities resulting from this exercise and never the other way round,” Namashulua said.

The legal process of decentralisation is gradual, and local authorities must demonstrate the technical capacity to carry out decentralised functions in the areas of education, health and public works in matters relating to human resources, internal organisation and financial resources.

“It is also necessary to check whether municipalities are not going beyond [decentralised powers], moving to areas outside of the transferred ones,” she minister.

The minister pointed out the need to accelerate decentralisation, noting that each sector has to see what it can do to facilitate the transfer of powers to local authorities.

“Decentralisation will help districts to be competitive so that development at local level becomes a reality,” Namashulua said.

The Ministry of State Administration and Civil Service has stated that the municipalities of Matola, Xai-Xai, Inhambane, Maxixe, Massinga, Vilankulo, Beira, Dondo, Marromeu, Gorongosa, Chimoio, Gondola, Manica, Catandica, Quelimane, Pemba, Lichinga and Cuamba have already expressed their intention to take over the management of primary education services.

Source: AIM