Outgoing Lusaka Mayor Ms. Chilando Chitangala has defended her administration’s record, saying her leadership made significant strides in transforming the capital city despite political pressure, service delivery challenges and operating in a male dominated environment.
In an emotional farewell speech marking the end of her five-year term of office, Ms. Chitangala has reflected on her journey since being sworn into office in September 2021, describing it as “a journey of a lifetime.”
She has said taking up leadership of the Lusaka City Council came with anxiety, citing the city’s enormous service delivery challenges, political differences and the pressure of leading as a woman from the opposition.
Ms. Chitangala, however, has said her administration managed to record notable achievements through strategic partnerships and improved revenue collection systems at the local authority.
She has revealed that Lusaka City Council (LCC) mobilized more than US$13.5 million towards climate resilience, urban infrastructure, food security, disaster risk reduction and early childhood development projects.
Among the projects highlighted were the Youth Climate Fund supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Early Childhood Development Project backed by Big Win Philanthropy, and several drainage improvement initiatives supported by GIZ and the African Development Bank.
The Mayor has also pointed to the implementation of the DRR4Africa Project valued at US$2.4 million aimed at reducing disaster risks in unplanned settlements, as well as the modernization of Chilenje Market to improve trading conditions.
Ms. Chitangala said her administration also made progress in improving road infrastructure and public safety through the rehabilitation of a 40.1-kilometre road network, drainage upgrades in Kanyama, installation of street lights and construction of police posts.
She has further highlighted projects implemented under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), including the construction of maternity annexes and classroom blocks to support the Free Education Policy.
The outgoing Mayor has said desk distribution programmes across Lusaka had also helped ensure that learners no longer sat on the floor in schools.
Ms. Chitangala has acknowledged that many of the council’s achievements often went unnoticed due to the scale of the city’s challenges, but maintained that meaningful progress had been made towards building the Lusaka residents aspire for.
By Mulenga Chipampe Makasa
