Ms Hamweemba said missing district meetings has become habitual by some HODs in the district thereby affecting effective coordination of developmental projects in the area.
Speaking when she addressed Heads of Government Departments during a one day training on financial management held in Choma today, Ms Hamweemba said it was important for all HODs to attend district meetings to share and learn what is happening in each department.
“Meetings organized by the district administration are important for each HOD to understand the activities other departments are implementing in the district, and facilitates easy coordination of developmental projects in the district”, she said
Ms Hamweemba described the tendency by some HODs of delegating other junior staff for meetings as unacceptable.
She warned that those HODs who do not attend district meetings risk losing their positions to their juniors whom they delegate to represent them for meetings.
“I will second for appointment the junior staff that is usually sent to represent HODs for these important district meetings that require the input of the HOD, because always delegating your junior staff signifies your incompetence to head the department but competence in the delegated junior staff “, she said
Ms Hamweemba said HODs should carry out the functions for which they were employed for and attending meetings organized by the office of the district commissioner is their mandate.
Ms Hamweemba urged HODs to ensure punctuality as observed by all public service workers under their jurisdiction if the district was to live up to its provincial status in effective and efficient operations.
And commenting on the nature of the training Ms Hamweemba said all district heads should have attended the meeting to obtain clear understanding on the financial regulations government was putting in place.
She said there could never be clear financial controls in a department where an HOD does not understand the correct financial regulations that exist.
“I do not see how an HOD who is absent from this meeting can spear head the management of adequate adherence of government financial regulations whose guidelines are being given in this meeting right now”, she said
The district Commissioner however urged the HODs present to take advantage of the training and obtain a clear understanding on the acquisition and management procedures of government funds which was the objective of the training.
And speaking at the same occasion Southern Province Senior accountant Muyano Mwanang’ombe who was among the facilitators of the training said government seeks to decentralize the management of funds to district level for enhanced service delivery.
“With effect from end of January next year district departments will obtain operational funds through the office of the district commissioner, the aim is to decentralize the payment system”, he said
Mr Mwanang’ombe said government had laid down financial procedures which needed to be followed if public resources are to be safeguarded and that it was important for all public service workers to adhere to them.
The financial management training which is aimed at providing adequate and clear understanding on the procurement procedures, stores department, internal financial controls and management of public funds was conducted in all the districts of southern province.
