KATIMA MULILO – The Zambezi regional council is holding a planning workshop aimed at finalising its strategic plan and developing its annual plans for the different directorates ahead of the next fiscal year 2014/15. Performance agreements are also expected to be developed at the end of the workshop.
The five-year strategic plan of the council which runs up to 2019 in line with the 4th National Development Plan (NDP4) is intended to guide council activities towards the realisation of Vision 2030. The planning workshop was attended by the managers of the various directorates, regional council staffers and councillors from the various constituencies in the region. Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Zambezi regional council chairperson Raphael Mbala said the finalisation of the strategic plan was imperative, since NDP4 is drawing closer to its end. “The strategic plan should be five years. It is my hope that our strategic plan, if possible, will coincide with the period of NDP4. In this way we will be able to report appropriately in the defined time frame of our national development plans,” said Mbala. In an effort aimed at enhancing productivity and ultimately service delivery, council also intends to develop performance agreements at the end of the workshop. Mbala said this should serve as a measure upon which council would encourage committed staff members and caution those that are under-performing. “By March 2014 all staff members will be signing performance agreements for the new financial year. For those who are committed hard workers, this should be a step in the right direction, as we will be able to gauge their excellent performance.
For those who have been sitting on the success of others, it shall also be known. I advise everyone to embrace this opportunity to showcase their performance,” Mbala said. The directorates of education, works and transport, health and lands fall under the regional council. The weeklong workshop ends on Friday and is being conducted with assistance from the Office of the Prime Minister.
By George Sanzila