Parliament has commenced intense debates on the proposed Municipal Governance and Accountability Bill, which seeks to overhaul the operational framework of urban and rural councils nationwide.

The bill introduces stricter oversight mechanisms for municipal procurement, mandates annual independent financial audits, and establishes performance benchmarks for city executives. Proponents argue the legislation is necessary to arrest the decline in basic urban service delivery, particularly regarding water sanitation and road maintenance.

Opposition lawmakers and civil society representatives have generally welcomed the focus on accountability, while emphasizing the need to preserve local governance autonomy from excessive central government intervention.