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(NYASATIMES) Prioritise health, education, water, agriculture in 2010-11 budget—economic watchdog

Prioritise health, education, water, agriculture in 2010-11 budget—economic watchdog
By Nyasa Times
Published: April 3, 2010

Health, education, water and agriculture deserve priority in the 2010-2011 National Budget to achieve more economic growth, an economic rights watchdog in Malawi has warned.

Economic Justice Network (MEJN) Executive Director Andrew Kumbatira told journalists in Lilongwe during a forum his organisation held with members of the civil society players to share notes on what to present to government budget preparatory team.

Finance Minister Ken Kandodo has started the customary pre-budget consultations with different interest groups like captains of industry. He has already met several important functionaries to firm up his views about the budget to be presented in June.

According to MEJN most Malawians wanted urgent attention in the areas of health, education, water and agriculture.

“We were trying to validate at national level whether indeed those are the issues that are worthy presenting to the minister of finance,” said Kumbatira referring to a survey his organisation conducted in 15 districts.

MEJN will present their budget contribution to Ministry of Finance officials on Tuesday 6 April 2010.

Finance Minister told the first Budget Consultative meeting in Mzuzu City on Thursday that the 2010-2011 National Budget will see government cut spending on non-core sectors.

“We will focus resources on the core sectors such as education, health and agriculture, among others, in the 2010-2011 budget but we expect maintained levels of performance in non-core sectors,” Kandodo said.

“In the education sector, there is need to build classroom blocks and teachers’ houses, among others. In the agriculture sector, there is need to support the Greenbelt Initiative which is among the key government priority areas,” he said.

Kandodo, who will be presenting his second budget since he was appointed overseer of the national kitty replacing the superb economic engineer Goodall Gondwe, has also disclosed that the Sector Wide Approach (Swap), credited for revolutionalising the health sector, will be extended to the Ministry of Education Science and Technology where it is expected to take effect at the beginning of the new financial year.

Labels: ANDREW KUMBATIRA, BUDGET 2010-2011 (MALAWI), KEN KANDODO

posted by MrK @ 4:36 PM