The National Assembly has failed Zambians
The National Assembly has failed Zambians - NalubambaBy Brighton Phiri
Monday March 05, 2007 [02:00]
THE National Assembly has failed Zambians over the implementation of the national budget, senior chief Bright Nalubamba of the Ila people of Namwala district has said. In his message to all members of parliament over their just-ended debate on this year's budget, chief Nalubamba, who is also Zambia National Royal Foundation chairperson, said it was high time the country had a National Assembly whose budgetary approvals were final and respected.
"Why do we come up with a budget and seek Parliament approval? For sometime now, we have seen budgetary allocations in the yellow book for constructions on the Monze-Niko and Choma-Chitongo roads," chief Nalubamba said. "To our surprise, no construction work is seen on these roads. Where does that money so approved by our Parliament go?" He wondered why the House laboured to approve a budget, which could not be implemented by the government.
Chief Nalubamba said it was wrong for Zambians to be duped into believing that budgetary allocations approved by the House were protected by law. "Where is that hidden authority that renders parliamentary authority hopeless?" he asked. "As a villager, I am led to believe that what the National Assembly does no one else can undo, especially with regard to budgetary allocations." He said rampant disregard for the budgetary allocation was the main reason for majority Zambians' suffering.
Chief Nalubamba said Zambians' social and economic rights were violated by the continued culture of ignoring the budgetary allocations. "This is unacceptable because development is a human right, not a privilege, as enshrined in the Africa Charter on Human and People's rights," he said. Chief Nalubamba complained that non-adherence to budgetary allocations had led to many villagers being considered less Zambian and shunned by the few powerful and rich.
Labels: GOVERNANCE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NATIONAL ASSEMBY
posted by MrK @ 4:43 AM
1 Comments:
The money should simply be monitored and given to local government. There should be clearly spelled out uses for it, and expensditures should be recorded and monitored. Let democratically elected local government councillors explain both to their people and to the financial authorities what was spent on what. I think that is the only way that money actually ends up with ordinary people, and finances basic needs like education, healthcare, policing, public amenities, and other local needs, like roads, wells, housing, etc.
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