Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Zambia risks falling back into debt trap, says Siliya
By Kabanda Chulu
Sat 22 June 2013, 14:01 CAT

ZAMBIA risks falling back into a debt trap if the government doesn't create a transparent legal framework governing debt management, says MMD Petauke Central member of parliament Dora Siliya.

But acting finance Minister Emmanuel Chenda said the government had finalised preparations for the budget and planning Bill that will be tabled before the current session of Parliament.

And a report by the parliamentary committee on estimates has recommended that the government put in place mechanisms that will allow the Minister of Finance to circulate the draft budget to key stakeholders before presentation.

Chenda also assured that the government would soon develop a legal framework to guide debt contraction.

Seconding a motion of the report of the Estimates committee on Thursday, Siliya advised the government to safeguard debt contraction.

"There is lack of a comprehensive legal framework guiding debt contraction and people who appeared before the committee expressed concern that Zambia will go back into debt trap so government should open up this process," said Siliya.

"When Zambia reached HIPC, people were mobilised to support debt cancellation, so people should be informed whenever debts are contracted."

Contributing to debates, UPND Senanga member of parliament Likando Mufalali said Zambia would not develop without transparency.

"We want the budget Act so that portfolio committees can have insight of what the budget contains. The Ministry of Finance should also explain why they get funds allocated for the budget Act but the Bill is never brought to Parliament," said Mufalali.

But Chenda said government would consider recommendations made by the Committee.

"We are in total agreement with having transparency when making the budget. In the coming weeks, the budget and planning Bill will be circulated for consultation and then it shall be tabled here because we need to strengthen the oversight role of Parliament and to enhance its credibility," he said.

Chenda said the government was addressing debt management through various reforms.

"We shall have a legal framework governing debt management without waiting for the outcome of the constitution process," said Chenda.

Labels: , , ,


Read more...

posted by MrK @ 3:35 PM 0 Comments

Friday, October 12, 2012

(DAILY MAIL ZM) Agriculture to replace mining – Chenda

Agriculture to replace mining – Chenda
October 12, 2012
From JERRY MUNTHALI in Tokyo, Japan

MINISTER of Agriculture and Livestock Emmanuel Chenda says Government is stepping up efforts to have the agriculture sector replace mining as the main vehicle of economic growth.

Mr Chenda made the pronouncement when he addressed a breakfast meeting hosted by the Japanese-African Union Parliamentary Friendship League at the prestigious Hotel New Otani in Tokyo yesterday.

“Right now, we have been concentrating on maize production but we want to diversify into livestock farming and aquaculture. We are looking to attract investment into Zambia to help us to develop these two sectors,” Mr Chenda said.

He added: “Our country is blessed with a lot of land and we are only using 14 percent of the land on agriculture, which means that there is a lot of potential that is yet to be tapped. From the 75 million hectares of land we have, 58 percent of arable land is available for agriculture purposes.”

He also said Government appreciates the gesture by the Japanese government to set up a veterinary school at the University Of Zambia (UNZA).

“Since the setting up of the school, we have trained many doctors and this has not only resulted in the development of the livestock sector but also an increase in production,” Mr Chenda said.

And Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo said Government is on a diversification programme and has put tourism on top of its agenda, to develop the sector and create employment among the youths.

“We have high unemployment among the youths and our government is working hard to improve the tourism sector to create employment for the youth,”she said.

Ms Masebo said Government in the past concentrated on wildlife tourism but has now started exploiting culture and arts.

She also invited Japanese parliamentarians to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly to be co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe next year.

And Mr Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is a member of the House of Representatives and delegation leader, said his country values the relations between Zambia and Japan.

Labels: , ,


Read more...

posted by MrK @ 4:07 PM 0 Comments