Thursday, March 28, 2024

Chikwanda in upbeat mood ahead of budget presentation

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Acting President and Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda flanked by Vice President Guy Scott and Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba
Acting President and Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda flanked by Vice President Guy Scott and Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda is in a good mood as he prepares to unveil the 2013 national budget, his office has said.

Mr. Chikwanda is expected to present the budget at 14:15 today at Parliament buildings in Lusaka.

“He is looking sharp and vibrant and ready to unveil the budget,” said Ministry Spokesman Chileshe Kandeta.

Mr. Kandeta posted on Facebook that Mr. Chikwanda, devout Catholic, has been heard saying the Rosary in this month of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

“He is ready and raring to go,” Mr. Kandeta wrote.

Mr. Kandeta also downplayed constitutional and procedural arguments surrounding the presentation of the budget this afternoon.

Mr. Chikwanda who is constitutionally mandated to present the Budget Bill to Parliament is now acting as Republican President in the absence of President Michael Sata.

This week opposition Monze UPND MP Jackie Mwiimbu raised a point of order wondering who will present the national budget in the absence of Mr. Chikwanda, who is currently the Acting president and is not attending parliament.

Mr. Mwiimbu said he was worried because for the first time in the history of parliament, the President is likely to present the national budget himself.

In response, Speaker of National Assembly Patrick Matibini said he did not want to be pre-emptive on what the Executive would do on Friday.

But Mr. Kandeta attempted to downplay the significance of the constitutional issues surrounding the matter.

“Mr. Chikwanda will present. He will present, there are no such issues,” Mr. Kandeta said.

55 COMMENTS

    • The MP is pointing out an important aspect of the constitution of which he his elected to do…  this is not a village. Thats why you will never develop because its like coded in Africans to disregard rules and regulations

  1. we are looking forward to see the budget which will have the following:

    1. PAYE free pay = K5million
    2. VAT reduced to 12%
    3. Farmer in put support project = minimum of 30bags of fertiliser per person
    4. Definite and very small Constitution making budget = 90% lower than the NCC one

    • padoka u re de reason why our country will owaz nt develop. we re nt saying de budget is nt correct bt let laws be followed, why hve them if we re going to b breaking them. even sampa can do rather than breakg de law jst bcos we re pf. mps will walk out n embaras gvt.

  2. we need to know how the Eurobond will be squandered by these patriotic f.o.o.l.s. this is your opportunity to show us what plans you have for much cerebrated kaloba and how you intend to pay it back the kaloba within ten years. dont this loose this opportunity as your boss did. read exacly what is written for you otherwise kaingu will also sought it out as well

    • Boss! That humility is so rare on this blog! Thanks for coming forward about the typos; however, your argument is spot on and carries a lot of substance! Stay blessed!!!

    • Ba Bwalya ubukopo!!!!!
      Mwibepesha ama typo…nga ama grammo! (..to pay IT back the KALOBA)…. ceRebrated, dont THIS LOOSE (lose), EXACLY, SOUGHT (sort), ALSO….AS WELL!
      You irritate me!

  3. ZAMBIANS DONT BE SILLY FOLLOW WHAT YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL SAYS FINISH AND KLARR!!! WHY IS HE ACTING PRESIDENT INSTEAD OF THE VICE? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EDUCATE ME ON THIS ONE???? IS SATA AFRAID TO LEAVE THE PRESIDENCY TO GUY?

  4. Cut spending on chiefs and vehicles,cut per diem payments to ministers,increase spending on health and sanitation,increase spending on education to at least 25% of budget and increase defence spending to about $800m.

    • Wow,i guess U.S $800m for defence is about 16% of budget.Oh,well i guess it puts our woefully small economy into perspective.

  5. we need the budget this afternoon,come rain,come sun shine.i hope it will contain VAT and PAYE relief to the Zambians.Suport FIP and more infrustructure development.

  6. #3, THERE’S A GRADE 7 EMPLOYED AT LT TO COPY WHAT OTHER PAPERS HAVE WRITTEN. AS A RESULT EVERY ARTICLE THEY PRESENT ON THE BLOG IS FULL OF ERRORS. I KEEP TELLING THEM TO EMPLOY A QUALIFIED JOURNALIST WHO NOT ONLY WRITES BUT EVEN UNDERSTANDS ISSUES HE/SHE IS WRITING ABOUT.

  7. Last time uncle Chikwanda was presenting the budget. he was high on whisky as usual. He jumped lines and misread figures. Hope today they have put those figures in words and remeinded him NOT to drink too much..

  8. Does it mean that when one is acting his boss’ position he cant do his own duties,where on earth. Chikwanda will present in his capacity as finance minister. Ba …go back to the drawing bod. I cant even open my mouth to say that

  9. whoever is expecting a good and inspiring budget from PF should always go outside and expect milk from a stone,PF has no plan to develop zambia,thats why that man in plot 1 went to japan running away from what he promised zambians,he knows there is no clear map to develop zambia from this budget,mark my word and wait for 14:30hrs ill come around 20hrs

  10. @ HH,we are not being silly, there is something you dont just know or understand! the fact that Chikwanda is acting president does mean he stops being finance minister No.where in the constitution?Cow Boys or Bush mouses when they come to Town no a bit, they tend to think they know it all. there is more to what you know.Relax ba president ba mu 2021

  11. #8 HH u r dull the constitution does not allow Guy to act as president becoz is not Zambian.He is british tho he was born in Zambia.

    • Guy is more zambian than most of you hiding in europe. The man has contributed alot to our country. We will change the constitution soon so that he can act as president. This old UNIP constitution has to go.

  12. Hamududu #16 – So who is acting as Minister of Finance? …and don’t start telling us WHO CAN or WHO YOU THINK SHOULD. Just a short posting on who is currently the Acting Finance Minister will help to unblock this gossip-laced debate…

  13. The role of Acting President is added responsibility and doesn’t take away ABC’s role as Min of Finance, Acting President is for administrative purpose so learn more before you expose your ignorance. When one acts in a higher office, that person doesnt necessarily stop to perform functions of his/her office unless someone has been appointed in the office he vacates to act in another office. Go back to school.

  14. He is not the President, he is Acting President and still retains his substantive position as Finance Minister!! There is no constitutional crisis here, actually!!!

  15. Zambians dont want to analyse issues.
    This is why they are getting shocked with PF’s behaviour and governance, when they should have known before elctions.
    Now they dont care about violation of constitutional procedure by Chikwanda.

  16. # 20 BMK, for real most Zambians, including Jack Ass Mwiimbu need to go back to school to understand the practicalities of holding an acting position. Even in the corporate world where most of us belong, when I act as Director Sales & Marketing, my normal duties of being Senior Development Manager are also performed and I get an acting allowance for the additional duties. The acting Director Sales & Marketing cannot make any policy changes or issue new policies. Therefore ABC is still Finance Minister who is simply acting president for administrative purposes. This afternoon, he will present the budget in his capacity as Finance Minister and there is no constitution crisis, except alot of baloney by the Jack Ass!

  17. #24 I feel you. I m always acting when my boss is away at the same time performing my duties. The problem on this blog is that we have too many UPND, Intelligent educated people. Unfortunately the so called uneducated kaponyas are the ones who vote in large numbers. Keep attacking them and see were it will take you Tongas with your god Hakaivotela Humwine.

    • Tabomfwa!! You expect them to use education to analyse the bigger picture; alas, they keep insulting the potential source of votes.

  18. # 23 Constitution Defender, which act of the constitution is being violated, you big liar? Stop alarming the masses in the hope of causing despondency among the people and hence hijack a chance to have your prefered individuals in government. This kind of lie peddling is almost mental! The UPND in particular are losing support from the people due to their uncurbed indiscriminate opposition to anything government is doing. I had a colleague of mine in my office this morning who is a stauch UPND supporter and he felt the same about the “criticism of all policy” by his party. Grow up! ABC, go and present the budget and let these lunatics continue debating a non-issue!

  19. I think that it is important to understand that there is no difference between one acting and the office bearer in terms of functions.
    I hope this is a simple thing to understand; this is why Guy Scott cannot act as president because he will have to perform the functions of the president should that happen.
    Zambians must understand that it is not in the naming of the TITTLES but in the FUNCTIONS.

    Any neglect of the constitution on any matter, including one which may appear small and insignificant, is actually a violation of the constitution. The reasons are obvious, both the seemingly simple case and the seemingly serious case are defended by the same constitution. When room is given to violate the simple matter, the same precedent will be used on a serious matter.

  20. The currency give it away, here in UK £1000 is monstrous money, in Zambia K1000 does not even get you a sweet, from my studies the currency of any country gives away the economic frailties of that country
    This budget will be ib Billion, Trillion and Zillion and for me I have one word to summarise it for most prudent Zambians ’Irrelevant’

    This used to be news but not anymore, I am 27 and I know a lot about relevancy that a lot of you will ever know in your entire lives
    I am sorry LT, I don’t dislike Mr Chikwanda, this shouldn’t news really

    Thanks

  21. People need to understand FUNCTIONS.
    You can be at a workplace where you act when your boss is away and continue to perform both you duties and those of the boss.
    But you need to understand that some functions you cannot perform by value of conflict of duty and procedure. You dont need any analysis to understand this but simply being alive ans awake is enough, that if you are a manager, and now acting as MD you will not do everything as usual for your office. example, if any requisition by manager needs authority by MD, you cannot raise the requisition as manger, and authorize it yourself as acting MD. For such function you will need someone to raise it as Manager, and you authorize it as acting MD – Simple!!!. These are called FUNCTIONS and can restrain one from some acts.

  22. I am shocked at the level of understanding exhibitted by some if not the majority of discussants on this matter.
    The desire to write and contribute seems to exceed that of knowledge and understanding, yet instead of asking questions they wish to contribute with authority, exposing a lot of disparities in their thoughts.

    I wish, however, to commend those many that are exhibiting great maturity, great understanding and great analysis – keep it up!!

  23. There is no small violation of the constitution in Finance Minister presenting the budget while acting as president. @ # 30 Constitution Defender, I asked you to give me the part of the constitution that is being breached. I assure you that, there is no illegality in the action to be done by ABC this afternoon 14:30. Please convince me by giving me the CAP of the constitution that forbids this.

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