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Govt to receive US$100 million from EU in budget support - Situmbeko

Govt to receive US$100 million from EU in budget support - Situmbeko
By Florence Bupe
Fri 23 July 2010, 14:00 CAT

THE Zambian government is this year expected to receive over US $100 million in budget support from the European Union (EU), Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane has disclosed.

Responding to a question from Chipili member of parliament Davies Mwila who wanted to know how much money the Zambian government was expecting from the European Union for poverty reduction programmes this year, Dr Musokotwane said a total of US $104.48 million would be received.

The funding is expected to go toward infrastructure development in the road and health sectors, as well as direct budget support and Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability programme (PEMFA).

“A total of US $45.94 million go toward direct budget support, US $32.3 million is expected to be used in the road sector, US $10 million will be under PEMFA,” Dr Musokotwane said.

“The health sector will receive US $16.1 million while the mining sector will have nil, the programme came to an end last year.”

Dr Musokotwane further disclosed that the country received US $92.47 million and US $124.55 million in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

And in response to Kanchibiya member of parliament Davies Mwango’s question on how much debt Zambia has contracted from China since 2008, finance deputy minister Chileshe Kapwepwe explained that US $76 million was borrowed.

“Government has contracted three loans from China totaling US $76,100,000. Of these loans, two were contracted from the Export Import Bank of China while one amounting to US $18,700,000 was contracted from the government of China,” she said.

Meanwhile, acting health minister Dr Brian Chituwo informed Parliament that an estimated 41,000 HIV related deaths occurred as at the end of 2009 Dr Chituwo said government was instituting measures to ensure that donor funds were utilised for the intended purpose in order to revamp donor confidence in the sector.

“In an effort to curb the wanton misappropriation of donor funds in the ministry (of health), we have formed committees to audit procurements in the ministry. We are also taking action against those who have been found wanting and they are currently in the courts of law,” said Dr Chituwo.

Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, DAVIES MWILA, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE

posted by MrK @ 2:20 PM