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Mufulira Municipal Council

The Department of Housing & Social Services

 The Departments of Housing and Social Services (DHSS) (or Community Services) manage community well-being, social protection, housing, and markets, overseeing services like upgrading unplanned settlements, managing markets/bus stations, community mobilization, sports/recreation, and skills development to promote local development and improve living standards. They work under the Ministry of Local Government, delivering services through sections like Community Development, Settlements Improvement, Markets, and Housing, focusing on poverty alleviation and better urban/peri-urban life.

Mr Francis Makesa - Director of Housing and Social Services

Units Under the Department of Housing & Social Services

1. Community Development Unit

 

The Community Development Unit (CDU) in Zambian local authorities is primarily responsible for the socio-economic empowerment of vulnerable communities, coordinating grassroots development, and ensuring that local initiatives align with national poverty reduction goals. 

Key responsibilities include:
 
  • Poverty Reduction Programs
  • Community Mobilization and Sensitization
  • Skills Training and Empowerment
  • Management of Social Welfare Support
  • Facilitating Community-Based Projects
  • Gender and Youth Development
  • Monitoring and Evaluation

2. Settlement Unit

The Settlement Unit is primarily responsible for the management and upgrading of unplanned settlements and facilitating improved housing conditions in these areas. 

Key responsibilities include:
 
  • Coordinating the upgrading of unplanned settlements
  • Facilitating access to essential services
  • Lobbying for improved housing units
  • Facilitating acquisition of occupancy licenses
  • Managing squatter settlements
  • Managing Council properties and housing data

3. Markets &Bus Stations Unit

In Zambia, the Markets and Bus Stations Unit in local authorities manages and controls markets/bus stations under the 2007 Act, focusing on revenue collection, infrastructure (construction/maintenance), hygiene, licensing traders/operators, ensuring security, enforcing by-laws (like market street operations), managing public-private partnerships, and reporting to the Ministry, aiming for smooth operations, hygiene standards, and service provision, often working with Management Boards. 

Key responsibilities include:
 
  • Control & Management
  • Revenue Generation
  • Infrastructure Development
  • Hygiene & Sanitation
  • Security
  • Policy Implementation
  • By-Law Enforcement

4. Sports & Culture Unit

The Sports & Culture Unit in Zambian local authorities is primarily responsible for promoting grassroots sports development and community cultural activities through the implementation of national policies at the local level. This function was devolved to local councils to encourage mass participation and community ownership. 

Key responsibilities include:
 
  • Sports Development
  • Facilities Management
  • Youth Engagement and Talent Identification
  • Community Mobilisation
  • Arts and Culture Promotion
  • Policy Implementation and Enforcement

5. Library & Archives Unit

The responsibilities of the Library & Archives Unit in local authorities are divided into two main areas: managing public libraries for community information access and managing local government records and archives as part of the national decentralisation policy. Local authorities are empowered by the Local Government Act, 2019 to establish and maintain public libraries, though this function is often optional

Key responsibilities include:
 
  • Providing public access
  • Collection management
  • Facilitating information access
  • Systematic records management
  • Custody and preservation
  • Disposal of records
  • Access and retrieval

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