On Friday 20th September, 2024 Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute hosted a high-level delegation of officials from the Federal Republic of Germany. The delegation was led by Dr. Frank Hofmann from Germany’s Ministry of Economic Cooperation & Development (BMZ).
Speaking after a conducted tour of the various units of the institute Dr. Frank Hofmann expressed delight with the infrastructural and operational transformation of Chalimbana Local Training Institute following the 10-million-euro investment from the Germany government. Dr. Hoffmann commended CLGTI for using the modernized infrastructure for the intended objective of supporting decentralized service delivery through capacity building of elected and appointed local government functionaries.
And speaking on behalf of the CLGTI Principal, Mr. Pondani Daka who is Head of Local Government Studies at commended the Germany government and the Zambian government for the unprecedented financial support towards the expansion and modernization of the institute. Mr. Daka indicated that the assistance from the government of Germany had raised the national profile of CLGTI, and has consequently expanded the role of the institute in the actualization and sustainability of the decentralization process in Zambia.
Mr. Daka reported that due to the improved infrastructure as well as the support towards the staff development through the educational component of the institute the institute has expanded the scope of trainings being offered. He cited the Bachelors and Master’s Degree as some of the programmes being introduced following the Germany-supported transformation. On the challenges, Mr. Daka pointed to the electricity crisis that the country was facing and how it has adversely affected operations of the institute due to increased operational costs arising from increased reliance on diesel-powered Generators. He called for possible support from KfW to enable the institute migrate to solar energy in order to reduce dependency on the national electricity Grid.
He Wrote “Great to be back at Chalimbana after the ground breaking ceremony and to see how wonderful it has developed”:
