Maravi

Govt to pursue implementation of developmental programmes

Govt to pursue implementation of developmental programmes
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 4:12:18 PM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday said his government will pursue implementation of developmental programmes to avoid Zambia becoming a 'no action talk only' country.
And national economic indaba chairperson Professor Muyunda Mwanalushi has challenged the government to quickly implement the resolutions to stop the indaba from looking like a ‘mere’ public relations exercise.

Receiving a report of the national indaba from Prof Mwanalushi in Lusaka, President Banda said Cabinet would soon meet so that implementation of the recommendations was not delayed any further.

"If you recall, several of the presenters mentioned that implementation is the key, as it was put to us, we should avoid being a NATO country that is 'no action talk only'," President Banda said.

"In this regard, government has developed a framework for monitoring the implementation of all policies, programmes and projects that are being implemented, be it in the 2009 budget, the private sector development programme, financial sector development programme, or the triangle of hope, among other programmes."

He said progress reports on the implementation of the policies, programmes and projects would be made on a monthly basis to the Cabinet committee on economic restructuring and development.

"For instance, progress will be reported on the implementation of each hospital, road or school in the budget, under this framework, each minister will be held accountable for all the policies, programmes and projects being implemented under their portfolio," said President Banda.

And handing over the indaba report, Prof Mwanalushi stressed the urgent need for the country to make a determined effort to broaden the national resource base through diversification away from the shifting sands of copper-mining.

"The main thrust of the recommendations is that economic diversification should not be delayed any longer and it should be the cornerstone of national response to the global economic crisis and the country's economic strategy going forward," Prof Mwanalushi said.

"Copper is a wasting asset and does not guarantee long-term prosperity for Zambia, which lies in human capital, agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. Therefore, economic diversification is the only hope for Zambia's attainment of Vision 2030."

He said there was need for Zambia to go beyond mere fire-fighting and house-keeping to the re-organisation and re-structuring of the economy if the country was to remain competitive in the aftermath of the crisis.

"Indeed, the recommendations of the indaba have endeavoured to go beyond the immediate response to the crisis by proposing a general transformation of the economic systems, structures and procedures," Prof Mwanalushi said.

"Hence, government should set up a committee to monitor the implementation of the indaba resolutions and the nation is expecting to see positive results, failure to follow up will relegate the indaba to a mere public relations exercise, that should be avoided at all costs."

He urged the government to address systemic challenges that continue to constrain further positive change in Zambia.

"Change of the mindset among Zambians is pivotal and this change must be seen to happen not only at the individual level but also within government systems. And procedures through elimination of bureaucracy that hamper effective service delivery and government should enhance its capacity and political will to implement both its stated programmes and what it receives through consultative processes like the indaba," Prof Mwanalushi said.

"Government should also develop a transparent and accountable system of determining who should be the beneficiaries of special support through incentives and fiscal stimulus measures for the affected economic sectors."

Over 500 people attended the national indaba that was held last month in Lusaka with a theme ‘Global economic crisis: a wake-up call for Zambia's economic transformation.'

In order to be more focused and with limited time, the national indaba paid attention only to those economic sectors which had been or were likely to be worst hit by the crisis and in which mitigation measures were likely to have far-reaching positive effects on the larger national economy.

Some of the sectors considered were: agriculture, tourism, mining, energy, finance, infrastructure, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.

Labels: MUYUNDA MWANALUSHI, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:14 PM