Economic Growth not benefiting the majority, says Hamududu

Economic Growth not benefiting the majority, says Hamududu
By Kabanda Chulu
Thu 08 Nov. 2012, 12:58 CAT

EXPANDED Parliamentary Committee on Estimates chairperson Highvie Hamududu says the favourable macroeconomic achievements were not benefiting the majority of Zambians.

Presenting the committee's findings on estimates of revenue and expenditure for the 2013 budget, Hamududu said this was clearly evidenced by the prevailing poverty levels especially in rural areas, high unemployment levels, low life expectancy, poor literacy levels and high malnutrition levels, dilapidated infrastructure and poor social indicators.

"Our expectation in this year's budget is that more attention be directed towards ensuring that benefits from the improvement in macroeconomic fundamentals flow to majority Zambians," Hamududu said.

He also advised government to address the issue of poor mechanism for monitoring mineral production and exports in order to ensure maximum revenue collection.

"Mr Speaker, the witnesses that appeared before your committee expressed concern on the low tax contributions to the budget by the mining sector despite high copper prices, yet the sector constitutes three quarters of the country's exports," Hamududu said. "The low tax contribution by the mines in the midst of high copper prices has kept the call by people to continue advocating for windfall taxes."

Hamududu commended the government for having included employment creation as a macroeconomic objective for the first time.

"This is a positive step in the right direction but we are concerned; strategies to ensure creation of decent and sustainable jobs are not clear," Hamududu said. "Your Committee is concerned that in the past, the jobs that have been created have been mainly lowly paying seasonal and contractual jobs without credible benefits."
He also expressed concern at the lack of accurate and timely employment statistics.

"The Committee therefore, urges government to put in place mechanisms and resources through Central Statistics Office to ensure generation of accurate and timely employment statistics that will assist the duty bearers and stakeholders to make informed decisions," Hamududu said.
In accepting the findings, finance minister Alexander Chikwanda said there was need for more engagement with MPs before the finalisation of the budget.