Mr. Isaac Edumadze, Central Regional Minister, has directed that heads of decentralised departments and agencies wishing to travel outside the region on working days must first obtain permission from the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC).

The directive was contained in a release issued and signed by the Regional Minister, complaining about the way some heads of departments and agencies leave their stations without the knowledge of the RCC.

"If this unhealthy trend is not checked it will continue to affect the efficient, timely and cost effective manner in our service delivery capacity to our numerous, clientele and other stakeholders", the release said.

Mr. Edumadze expressed regret that his office "gets to know of the absence of those officers when they are either needed to provide vital information to the RCC or when they fail to attend meetings".

Without prejudice to whatever official reason for which heads of departments/agencies are compelled to travel outside the region it must be directed that with immediate effect this office must be duly notified in writing, the release said.