(LUSAKATIMES) Government unveils a K 15.3 trillion national budget

Government unveils a K 15.3 trillion national budget
January 30, 2009

Government today unveiled a K 15.3 trillion national budget for 2009 under the theme ‘ Enhancing growth through competitiveness and diversification,’ whose larger portion would be financed locally.

This year’s budget represents an 11 percent increase from the 2008 national budget of K 13.7 trillion. The total budget represents a drop in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from last years of 26.7 percent to 25.4 percent.

Of the total budget, K 10, 645.9 billion ( representing about 69.7 percent ) will be financed locally while K2, 768.7 billion ( 18.1 percent ) would be sourced externally through grants from cooperating partners.

The balance of K1,864.5 billion or 12. 2 percent will be financed through domestic borrowing of K1,069.0 of 1.8 percent of GDP and External borrowing of K795.5 billion or 1.3 percent of GDP.

K2,768.7 billion , K810.1 will be through Direct Budget Zone (DBZ) while K409.6 billion is expected to be funded through sector budget support.

Presenting the 2009 budget to Parliament today, Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane said government has proposed to spend K 4.865.5 billion on government general services.

He said government has provided K50 billion for the National Constitution conference (NCC) , K248.5 billion for dismantling areas, domestic debt interest K978.8 billion and external debt K372.0 billion and K173.1 for compensation and wards.

Dr. Simukotwane said government has also provided K610.7 billion for public and safety , representing 4 percent of the total.

Government has also allocated 3,021 .2 billion for economic affairs , K117.3 billion for environmental protection , K587.3 billion for Housing and Community amenities and 1,823.4 billion representing 11.9 percent of the budget to the health sector while the education sector has 2,628.0 billion , which is 17.2 percent of the budget.

On Infrastructure government has allocated K1,356.8 billion for roads of which K 250.3 billion will go towards rehabilitation of feeder roads and for provincial rural units that will be used to operate road maintenance equipment procured last year.

And government has this year increased allocation to the Ferliser Support programme (FSP) from K185 billion for last year to K435 billion in this years budget.

Dr. Musokotwane said the measure is meant to empower small scale farmers with inputs in efforts of improve national security .

He has further allocated K 100 billion for the strategic food reserve and K 70.7 billion for livestock development and a further K56.5 billion for irrigation development.

On Transport and Communication, government has allocated K 21.2 billion towards the rehabilitation of Kasama , Solwezi, Mfuwe and Mansa airports and a further K 10.0 billion for the completion of the Chipata Muchiji railway.

Dr. Musokotwane said government has provided K 214.4 billion to the national Rural and urban water supply programme and a further K10 billion towards the improvement of drainage system in Lusaka city.

On the allocated for Public order nada safety, government will send K475.8 on policing services and K35 billion for the construction of houses for defense personnel.

Public service pension fund has been allocated K174.3 billion while a further K128.1 has been allocated as government employer contribution to the fund.

K40 billion has been proposed for the Citizen Empowerment Fund (CEF) while K67.5 billion has been allocated towards the Constituency development Fund (CDF) .

Dr. Musokotwane has revealed that key ministries will publish booklets showing resources allocated for each projects in order to facilitate effective monitoring by stakeholders.

He said the measure is meant is meant to enhance transparency and accountability on the part of government .

ZANIS/SJK/MKM/ENDS/MM