Urban planning must respond to needs of communities

• Veep says Govt committed to promoting orderly human settlements

MARY LEMBA

Lusaka

VICE-PRESIDENT Mutale Nalumango says urban planning must respond to the needs of communities by improving access to basic services without unnecessarily displacing people from their homes and livelihoods.

Mrs Nalumango said Government is committed to promoting orderly human settlements, improving infrastructure and expanding economic opportunities as Zambia’s towns and cities continue to grow.

She said this in a speech read on her behalf by Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Gift Sialubalo at the National Urban Conference in Lusaka yesterday.

Mrs Nalumango said urban development should be inclusive and practical to ensure that planning translates into improved living conditions for citizens.

“Our task is not to abandon urban planning or compromise standards, but to make planning more practical, inclusive and responsive to people’s needs, improving living conditions without unnecessary displacement,” she said.

She said unplanned settlements, inadequate drainage and sanitation, housing congestion and insecurity remain major challenges requiring coordinated planning and investment in infrastructure.

Mrs Nalumango said land allocation and investment decisions should be guided by spatial planning and supported by essential infrastructure, including roads, drainage systems, water and sewerage networks, schools, health facilities and public spaces.

She said Government is also advancing decentralisation to bring decision-making and development closer to communities, with local authorities expected to translate development priorities into practical plans, budgets and projects.

Mrs Nalumango said integrated development plans are important in guiding local investments, urging national institutions and cooperating partners to align their support with priorities identified by local authorities.

She said well-planned settlements are essential to connecting people to jobs and markets, protecting natural resources and creating an environment where households and businesses can invest with confidence.

Meanwhile, Chief Chamuka called for stronger collaboration between traditional leaders, local authorities and national policymakers to ensure urban expansion is properly managed, particularly in customary areas experiencing increasing demand for land.

Chief Chamuka said urban growth extends beyond municipal boundaries, affecting families, land and natural resources in surrounding chiefdoms.

He said traditional governance and modern urban planning should complement each other to promote orderly development, secure land tenure and protect the heritage of future generations. https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home