Mission

Dedicated to the promotion of quality local government practice by:

• Providing relevant quality services
• Providing relevant management development programs
• Provision of information sharing platforms
• Conducting multi-faceted inclusive research and development
• Advocating for local government best practice in all forums

Core Values

• Innovation “We continuously improve the way we do things”
• Accountability “We hold members accountable to the association”
• Integrity “We uphold the highest ethical and moral standards to the best interest of the organization”
• Professionalism “We execute duties with diligence and skill”

Background

The Local Authorities Management Association of Swaziland (LAMAS) is a registered association formed by all established Urban Areas (Town Boards, City/Town Councils and Municipalities) in the Kingdom of Swaziland which has been incorporated in terms of the Swaziland Companies Act No. 8 of 2009 under the Certificate of Incorporation No. 2310 of 2014.

The organization has the following objectives: -

• To promote the quality of local governance by enhancing the managerial skills of persons in professional managerial posts.
• To research on and develop the management sciences pertaining to local governance.
• To promote and assure the effective teaching and training of managerial skills for local governance to such members of the Association as are tasked with such responsibilities.
• To promote the image of local governance.
• To undertake continuous evaluation of the requirements of managerial posts in local government.
• To establish and maintain an information Centre concerning local governance and hold meetings jointly with other Associations and institutions, to promote and achieve the objects of the Association and matters incidental thereto.
• To promote the professionalism of its Members.
• To initiate and provide advice to legislative Authorities on proposed legislation pertaining to the governance of local government.
• To establish and equip a cadre of professionals with skills relevant for the running of local governments which shall serve as a pool of first preference for purposes of appointment into local government positions.
• To represent the interests of its Members in any forum where matters are discussed, decisions made, policies framed and / or any action is taken in relation to the operation of local governments.

Since the organization was registered in year 2014, it has been operating without a dedicated office as well as without a strategic plan to guide its operations. A number of factors have contributed to this, including, but not limited to the resource base of the organization. The organization is largely dependent on subscriptions by members to sustain its operations: it was, therefore, difficult to initiate programs and activities in promoting its key objectives.