Parliament has approved the extension of office for Local Councils 1 and II for a period of six months.
The amendment was proposed by the Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, who said that the government is committed to having the elections conducted before the six months elapse.
The majority of the MPs supported the amendment, saying that failure to extend the tenure would affect the services provided by local councils. They argued that the councils need more time to prepare for the elections and that the current economic situation makes it difficult to hold elections at this time.
The amendment was passed by a vote of 275 to 10. The opposition MPs voted against the amendment, arguing that it was a way for the government to extend its control over local government.
The statutory instrument was tabled before the House by the Minister on Thursday, July 27, 2023.
The statutory instrument provides that the Local Councils 1 and II will continue to perform their functions as usual, but they will not be able to make any new decisions. They will also not be able to spend any new money.
The statutory instrument also provides that the elections will be held within the next six months.