COUNCILS COUNTRYWIDE REGAIN AUTHORITY OVER CADRES

By NATION REPORTER GOVERNMENT has directed all councils to immediately takeover the running of markets and bus stations to ensure that all revenue is retained. Local Government permanent Secretary, Mathew Ngulube, said the management and operations of the markets and bus stations in the country was governed by the Market and Bus Stations Act NO.7 of 2007. Mr Ngulube said Section 5 (1) of the Act mandates local authorities to take control of markets and bus stations within their jurisdictions. This is according to a letter addressed to all Town Clerks and Council Secretaries dated August 19, 2021. “This means that only local authorities are mandateed to manage the markets and bus stations,” the letter reads in part.  Mr Ngulube said local authorities should immediately implement the Markets and Bus Stations Act which empowers them to collect revenue. The Permanent Secretary once councils collected maximum revenue, they would avoid over dependence on the central government for their funding. He also directed all local authorities to heighten the deployment of council officers in all markets and bus stations to manage revenues.