The United Kingdom has given Zambia K8.9 billion for capacity building in the Parliamentary Reform Programme,PRP.
Visiting UK Minister for Development, Gillian Merron, signed on behalf of the UK government while Finance and National Planning Minister, Ng’andu Magande, signed for Zambia.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lusaka today Mr. Magande said the objective of the three year grant is to build capacity so that the country develops a representative, responsive, efficient, accountable and linked parliament.
Mr Magande said the grant will greatly assist in addressing the capacity development component of the PRP III which will be implemented as a distinct component of the PRP.
He said the grant will develop the institutional, human and operational capacities of the Members of Parliament and the staff of the national assembly in order to have an improved legislative system.
Mr Magande added that the assistance will also enhance the MPs’ capacity to carry out oversight function of the operations of the executive arm of government.
He commended the UK government for its continued support in fulfillment of the Ten year partnership arrangement which was signed last year in the UK.
He said under the ten year arrangement the UK has been providing bilateral assistance to Zambia at the indicative level of at least K255 billion per annum.
Mr Magande assured the UK government of accountable and transparent utilization of the funds.
And UK Minister for Development, Gillian Merron, said the UK has provided assistance in order to strengthen the National Assembly as a representative voice of the Zambian people.
Ms Merron said the programme aims at improving the relationship between the MPs and the constituents, producing better laws and increasing scrutiny on government operations.
She said the funds are also an opportunity for the Zambian government to invest in far reaching programmes that will improve the lives of the citizens.
Mamamama…….Zadyewa izii ndalama.ANYANDULE aba bazalemela.nabo ba britain which parliamentaly reforms? when the same was on going for almost 2 years in (1999-2001)i stand to be corrected on the years and nothing has come out of that.
LT – the picture should be of pounds not dollars, i guess!
Why do we keep borrowing for unworthy causes. They just forgave our debt and this is likely to accumulate to the same former figure if this habit continues.
If u examine the current state of affairs, we have government structures at all levels of society and we ‘ll end up paying everybody with the money finishing on people’s allowances and nothing going to the actual programme. We already have Provincial Ministers and PSs, DCs, MPs, the mayors and town clerks in councils, coucillors and auditor general checking issues. What more monitoring do they want
Katele,Machungwa,Late Mandandi,former clerk of the National Assembly Chibesakunda were found guilty of stealing those same monies to fund the MMD convention in 2001 which gave birth to Levy.
Sata was @ the centre of distributing the money to cadres.
who know these so called donors should stop “giving” money blindly to GRZ. Surely in this day and age of the new Zambia is it even worth reporting a $2.5Mn donation when the Bank of Zambia has $1.5Bn in reserves??? GRZ needs to have the guts to say thanks but no thanks – please channel this money into venture projects with our people at your own risk (and gains). Right now all this bilateral money is ending up at Bank of Zambia or/and in circulation in the economy leading to a very very strong Kwacha which in turn is killing our non traditional exports. Rumor in Zed now is that York Farm is ready to kick the bucket as its exports have become uncompetitive with raising exchange rates.
You zambians don’t understand the logic behind this, the british wants to keep the goverment happy and keep them in their pocket.
I agree with #6 Blackburn Rover. This is just another tactic of smearing honey on the poor man’s mouth to keep him silent. But guess what UK, we the people will speak out! For everything you claim to rightfully own was plundered from Africa. Or can anyone post me a list of natural resources Britain has?
#7 we have no natural resources but sweet mouths!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the whole British Government giving Zambia K8.9Billion, is it Pounds or you are correct its KWACHA, if its kwacha then it is really bad. you are considered by be of lower level were even the Countries Minister of Finance is the one sighing for K8.9billion. wake up guys you can do better than this.
truely Zambian
twasebana
When are we going to clease ourselves off the shame of lobbying for handouts? Magande seems to be excited with rceiving thses paltry donations.Its is such stuff that dents our image an a nation. Why should we potrayed as beggers when we have enough resources to sustain ourselves? This is utter nonsense!! The Bristih should hang with thier money. Let them build capacity thier own country. We dont need such useless gifts, what Zambia needs is viable and sensible investment, not to ma Grant.
don’t fotograph money in dollars and then quote it in kwachas, stupid psychology.
#7, Nina,
Brirain and other developed countries dont need to rely on natural resources for their economy. Their economy is based on technology and service industries. Reliance on natural resources and manufacturing is a mark of a poor under developed country. That is why Britain is giving the money to Zambia and not the other way around. When Zambia starts to give billions to Uk you will be in a better position to criticise
there are better projects waiting for money to cut down, poverty.the only wealth calling a university UNZA needs upgrading.UTH needs equipment so that you do not take Sata and Chiluba to S.A every time they are ill.am sure even now your TV and radio station needs money.last time i was in Zed i was irritated by the quality.this grant is not wealth getting.am sure the British are laughing at you.coz it was better for them to sponsor some people to learn in their schools.
Can we stop being a borrowing nation, its like we pride ourselves in borrowing money being helped by the west (i’m not saying we dont need it) and then our leaders suck up to them because we owe them money. Any person with pride would not want to be known as a money borrower, there’s no pride in the zambian government. They need to change the way they operate any there’s no legacy that mwanawasa is going to leave once he’s out of power. empower the people of zambia instead of bloody supporting foreing investors because they are bringing in money when they are taking out more money…
I’m sure everyone knows how hard it is for a foreinger to own land or run a business in the foreing land, but in zambia its easy as 123…someone should plant some intellectual seeds in the government, something like what Leo Strauss did in the American government. influence the thought of the *****ic government.
#14 Mulenga…You know maybe I am just ignorant or something but if you talk about things like UNZA and UTH needing equipment and funding blah blah blah. Cant these institutions sustain themselves from the high charges they impose or charge people when they require their services i,e Boarding fees, tuition fees, entry fees, registration fees, administration fees, admition fees, etc. Just where do all the monies go??? Please somebody make me understand
we can not keep getting funding and not do anything sensiable with the money,come on guys wake up or should i say be fair.you have miss used enough money,do you want our enconomy to be like that of Zimbabwe?i think Zambia stands a better chance to prove to these Western countries that we have brains and education and that we can manage to sustain ourselves.be real
#2,you’re very right.Why dollars as if its from the states.
#17,
#17,AFRICAN POLITICS
I hear its now free medical service in all govt healthy institutions.So if this is the case,where are they going to get the cash?
why bother? have we seen credible change in other past programs such us road sector investment programs yielding acceptable results after grants were given. NO. anyway atleast we know that relatives to mps will be looking forward to months of living large and new 4x4s as thats the only capacity we seem to be good at building. WHATS HAPPENING TO LIVINGSTONE – ZIMBA ROAD? please channel that grant to buld the capacity of the roadside villagers who continue repairing the roads with Roads dept approved methods- MUD!!!
Twanwa bwakula again .