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(collected articles) Dr.Situmbeko Musokotwane

These are some of the collected articles from dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, the recently appointed Finance Minister.

ICT has potential to reduce public sector spending

GOVERNMENT will ensure that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is given priority because it has the potential to reduce public sector spending by attracting private local and foreign direct investments.

Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Situmbeko Musokotwane said Government had put in place the Zambia Development Agency (ZDAA) Act and the Citizens Economic Empowerment (CEEA) Act and that the two instruments were designed to increase the economic performance of all sectors in the country.

Opening a three-day ICT draft bill stakeholders consultative meeting at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Musokotwane said ICT would be used as an effective tool for poverty reduction because it had the potential to substantially advance progress towards the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Dr Musokotwane said the ZDAA and CEEA instruments were designed to increase the economic performance of all sectors in the country but stressed that this would only become a reality if the ICT sector’s legal and regulatory framework was supportive of the broader social and economic policies of Government.

He said the ICT sector was steadily becoming the leader in investment in the country and that the high level of confidence was shared by the corporate world in Zambia as reflected in the first ever Business Leaders Confidence Index (BLCI) for Zambia recently undertaken by the Steadman Group which revealed that the ICT sector was a leader in confidence by having 61 index points, the highest points above any other sector in the country.

He said in order to maintain the momentum, a dynamic legal and regulatory framework was imperative to act as the foundation for the development of the ICT sector and that Government had since committed itself to establishing an autonomous regulatory body capable of implementing the vision of a fully liberalised ICT sector.

Government had also committed itself to promote the development of licensing framework that take into account the use of cost -effective technologies and systems that could assist in increasing access to the ICTs especially in rural areas.

“As you discuss the ICT bill, it is important to note that in the national ICT policy, the Zambian Government has committed itself to developing appropriate institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks in order to support the development of a competitive local ICT sector and an information society based on coverage, fair, predictable and transparent legal and regulatory system,” he said.

He said Government through the Ministry of Communication and Transport and the Communication Authority had begun implementing some of the commitments made in the policy including the development of a new legal framework.

At the same function, Communication Authority chief executive Shuller Habenzu said the workshop was aimed at shaping the direction of the sector to meet not only current and future industry requirements but would focus on regional and international best practices so that Zambia benefits from its membership to the global village.

[Times of Zambia]



http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=3&id=1079493974

Opinion

THE summary of what Secretary to the Treasury Situmbeko Musokotwane said before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee yesterday is that Government needs to apply fiscal discipline more than any other time before.

Dr Musokotwane admitted before the committee that it was becoming increasingly difficult for Government to spread the little resources because the demands were high against a lean income inflow.

“We need to ask ourselves honestly and fairly, how many institutions can we afford to fund. Given the resource base, we have too many institutions to support and at the end of the day our expenditure levels are too high,” he told the parliamentary team.

The revelation that the size of Government is large is not new at all, but rather what is encouraging is that difficult as the task is, some measures are being taken to correct flaws such as over-expenditure.

According to Dr Musokotwane, even the supplementary expenditure on defence and Office of the President will now have to be tabled before Cabinet for necessary surgery. That means there is no sacred cow anymore.

Every one has to sacrifice for the country to move forward.

It is also good that authorities are responding to public concerns on the need to trim the size of Government. Suggestions from the public and recommendations of the national Indaba last September on the issue are all being taken on board.

This, as mentioned before, is a very difficult and challenging task which will call for more than just sacrifice. Government has to do all it can to boost resources and may need the helping hand of co-operating partners.

But what is more important is for the system of Government to begin adjusting. There is need for internal discipline. In the past there have been cases of over-expenditure and diversion of some resources.

As Dr Musokotwane revealed, funds from the fuel levy that were taken elsewhere is an example. Such things have to be stopped.

However, as the committee directed, there appears to have been gross misapplication of Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) funds.

Everything must be done to follow up the culprits. More importantly stringent controls are central to curbing further misuse of funds.

The country has a serious assignment to reach the HIPC completion point. This will only be possible if conditions are met.

Controlling officers in Government therefore have a mammoth task to monitor each and every expenditure.

Every coin should be accounted for. Internal weaknesses, as the parliamentary committee observed account for most lapses, and have contributed to misuse and misapplication of funds in the system. There is need to turn a new leaf for Zambia to succeed. Fiscal discipline is the critical factor.


http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200511/22/print20051122_223205.html

Zambia expects 6 percent GDP growth in years ahead
The Zambian government has projected an average of six percent growth in its gross domestic product (GDP) between 2006 and 2008, the official Times of Zambia newspaper said Tuesday.

The projection is contained in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework released by the government Monday.

Situmbeko Musokotwane, secretary to the treasury, was quoted as saying that mining and construction will continue to dominate the growth process, especially with the opening of major new copper mines in the Northwestern Province.

Other sectors that should contribute to the growth include manufacturing, tourism, transport, storage and communications, he said.

Musokotwane said the government would focus on labor-intensive sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing.

"In this regard, particular attention will be on expanding rural infrastructure such as feeder roads, bridges and dams, among others," he said.

Zambia recorded a 4.6 percent GDP growth rate in 2004, thanks mainly to increased copper production, its single biggest forex earner. The government has projected an even stronger growth for 2005.

Source: Xinhua





http://english.people.com.cn/200512/26/print20051226_230898.html

Zambia to explore possibility of leasing oil refinery

Zambia is to explore possibility of leasing its sole petroleum refinery to private investors, Zambia Daily Mail reported Monday.

Situmbeko Musokotwane, secretary of the treasury, was quoted as saying that the move aims at encouraging new private investment into Indeni petroleum refinery in the northern Zambia to improve its efficiency.

The refinery has been dogged by frequent breakdowns leading to fuel shortages in the southern African inland country.

Musokotwane said the government will instead focus its attention to managing fuel strategic reserves as opposed to running the refinery.

The government is carrying out a legal and technical review on Indeni to recommend options on the future of the plant, he said.





http://www.ciol.com/News/News-Reports/Zambia-Govt-keen-on-investments-from-India/16108102856/0/

Realizing the importance of IT, Republic of Zambia has declared education priority sector. "The government has decided to attract giant investments from Asia particularly India. This will help increase skills training and create job opportunities. We don't have enough schools for children. We are hiring more teachers and learning materials. We don't have adequate facilities too. The government is also looking at attracting investments in tourism, agriculture and other areas," Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, economic advisor to the President of Zambia told CIOL.

The delegation, which visited the IT capital on Tuesday to explore possibilities of attracting investments to Zambia, has seen signs of investments from Mysore. This was evident when the Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane and High Commissioner Keli Walubita invited Raman International Institute of Information Technology (RiiiT)- India's first IT finishing school supported by Karnataka Government, to set up Information Communication Centre (ICT) centre in Zambia.

Labels: CABINET, ICT, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE

posted by MrK @ 6:20 PM