The international community and other cooperating partners have welcomed the 2009 national budget which was presented by Finance and National Planning Minster Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane in Parliament today.
European Head of Delegation Derrick Fee described the budget as an opportunity to diversify in many key sectors of the country.
He said the budget is also positive for the country’s economy as it is aimed at addressing key sectors such as health and education which have recorded an increase in budget allocation.
He also noted that the increases in tax on mobile phones will not necessarily affect the communication industry negatively as it is a small reduction.
And the World Bank has welcomed Zambia’s 2009 national budget.
World Bank Country Representative Kapil Kapoor says he is overwhelmed to see that the Zambian government in its 2009 national budget has reflected a number of programmes that would enhance economic development.
Dr. Kapoor told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the 2009 national budget has touched on a number of development programmes which he said when implemented will harness economic development in the country.
He cited the mining, agriculture, tourism, health, education and construction sectors respectively, as some of the key sectors that needed to be supported in order to enhance economic development in the country.
Kapoor said the World Bank is happy to see that the 2009 national budget was focusing on diversification a move he said will help to address some challenges associated with the global economic and financial crunch.
He further called on the Zambian government to implement the prospects of the 2009 national budget with a view to enhancing economic development in the country.
LOCAL REACTION
And former Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande has welcomed the 2009 national budget.
Mr. Magande said the 2009 national budget was welcome as it was showing signs of economic recovery to the nation.
He said he was happy with the measures that have been proposed by government in the 2009 budget which he said needed to be understood and implemented by the Zambian citizenry if the 2009 budget was to became a reality.
Mr. Magande further said that the 2009 national budget was reflecting the country’s economic recovery as it was massively supporting key sector such as education, health, agriculture and tourism which he said was key to the economic emancipation of the country.
He has since urged farmers in the country to take advantage of the zero-rated agricultural equipment in order to boost the agriculture sector in the country.
And the Zambia Manufacturing Association Chairperson Dave Babbar said this year’s budget is positive as it is aiming at addressing key economical sectors such as agriculture which will help increase food production and poverty reduction.
He said the 2009 budget which is targeted at over 15 trillion kwacha will also help in addressing reduced cost of doing business in the country.
He said reduced cost in doing business will help empower many Zambians thereby further reducing poverty.
And ZRA Commissioner General Criticles Mwansa said this year’s budget has parameters for Zambia’s economic development.
He said the budget will also help many government systems to transform into productive ones.
The ZRA chief said the 2009 budget will also help reduce tax evasion.
He said ZRA will this year find means of curbing tax evasion in order to increase revenue for the country.
He cited the reduction in tax on clear beer as a measure to curb smuggling of imported beer.
Meanwhile, Patriotic Front Spokesperson Given Lubinda has noted that the recruitment of more teachers will help in further reducing the teacher pupil ratio.
He said government should continue allocating more funds to the education sector in order to ensure that the sector plays an active role in enhancing economic development.
Mr Lubinda however said that the government needs to do more in ensuring that the budget is effectively implemented to mean its target such as annual economic growth or 5% as estimated in this year’s budget.
ZANIS/CM/ENDS.
#1 😕
😮
Iwe number one and two pamulilo zoona wasenda pofwe ichushi sure?
$3 Billion yaleta kantu!!
Use the almost $3 Billion wisely
Well the International Community can also help us evaluate and account for how the past budget allocations were spent including every Kwacha.There is accountability in their countries and they should show every Zambian how to hold the Government accountable for every kwacha. Just being happy with the budget does not mean a thing to us as Zambians maybe to the Govt, we want them to show us how we can ensure that it is implemented accordingly and there is proper accountability. God bless Zambia.
Well the International Community can also help us evaluate and account for how the past budget allocations were spent including every Kwacha.There is accountability in their countries and they should show every Zambian how to hold the Government accountable for every kwacha. Just being happy with the budget does not mean a thing to us as Zambians maybe to the Govt, we want them to show us how we can ensure that it is implemented accordingly and there is proper accountability. God bless Zambia.
good budget,plz grz and civil servants don’t pocket the money,its not sangwapo.cage all those found wanting in the latest AG’s report.
i hope this means the’ll supply that outragous deficeit in funds it has!!! :d:d:d
International communiy! I don’t know about y’all
Some International Communities are just lip service.. yap yap yap
no feasible assistance or support… :-@:-@:-ss:-ss
Who are the international communities to mother Zambia’s poblems?
No incentive for blogging but bravo for the zero-rated agricultural equipment in order to boost the agriculture sector in the country.
Kaili,if the budget was more that, they were not going to manage funding it.
I do notlike your attitude!!
What you wrote about Jamaco being a … is not fair.
You are wicked. If you ever write anything like that again then we will all be on you. You are fake and unreal. Such languange should not be allowed here.
Bob good shot at Number 1
I think the budget is very good. It has touched a lot on diversification. A lot of investment has gone towards tourism and agriculture. This will surely help the country.
Many Zambians are int hte agricultural sector and more investment in that sector will surely help to reduce poverty. Also it will also lead to decongestion of Lusaka, The Copperbelt and Solwezi as many people will return to their villages to farm instead of coming to the city to mine.
This budget is positive one and I hope many Zambians at home and abroad will take advantage of the opportunities offered in this years budget.
Mweye Bazungu mwiko Bule sana, You have not critised any budget from the past. As long as there are some soft spots for your own benefist you always say that THIS YEARS BUDGET IS GOOD. You have telling this and that and giving us this and that. By the way how much have you allocated to Task Force for those guys to buy designer suits and drive latest SUV’s. These days if you come across a former classmate who is from TAST FORCE, then twana again till kokoliko.By the time task force will be disbanded you will have created another class of millioners within ACC, DEC, ZPand SHUSHUSHU. They guys buy michopo BIG way.Thats all for now
It does not surprise me the international community is happy,afterall they tell the government what to do.
Viva Serena Williams!!!
Ati international community happy, guys mulebako serious,what do you expect ?they should be happy coz you have simply danced to their tune by following their conditions. :((
ALL THE PREVIOUS BUDGETS WERE BEING RECOMMENDED BY INERNATIIONAL COMMUNITY.WHAT HAVE RESULTS BEEN ?PERSONALLY I HAVE NO HOPE IN SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS MORE ESPECILLY IN SUCH BUDGETS WERE VAT WHICH AFFECTS EACH ZAMBIAN EVERYDAY LIFE IS PAID LITTLE ATTENTION. 8->8->[-x
What is happening today? does it mean iam the only one not enjoying the weekend.Pa site pali quiet.
The budget is really impressive but what remains is implementation.Dr you deserve a pat on the back but for now i await the results and i wont hesitate to castigate you Dr for non performance.
Matworld!
Ati shani mwemfumu? Muleilishanya ninshi?
We should address basics like having proper sewer and clean drinking water systems in the rural areas. I was shocked to find that, in LUAPULA PROVINCE, past Nchelenge, the road was not tarred. People were still drawing water from streams. Pit latrines were the order of the day. Go and ask those people what they think about the budget. Who are these ‘co-operating partners’ anyway?
the international community has also been swimming naked ,we discovered after the tide receded.
lets see
“He said the budget is also positive for the country’s economy as it is aimed at addressing key sectors such as health and education which have recorded an increase in budget allocation.”
This is great news. Im sure that President RB Banda and his Administration have read my calls to them to take education seriously if we’re to develop. Noz, what remains is for him to global trot to some Chinese, Indians and the rest to come and study in Zambian Universities which will run following their academic calendars without GRZ intervention.
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[KJV Bible] Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
It’s all in the fine prints. The Zero rating of agricultural equipment is not something new. This has been the case since 2003. The trick is on who actually qualifies to claim the VAT exemption. I personally experienced this ‘fine print’ issue with ZRA in 2006. Wanting to take advantage of the Zero Rate on two wheel tractors, I bought 8 and took them home. I had a printed portion of the budget speech (then). With ZRA, it was a different issue. First, I had to be registered (VAT Registration) for me to qualify for the Zero rating. When I finally got the VAT Registration, I could not claim a refund of the VAT because my registration was past (after?) the importation date.
Cont’d from 30
In essence, ensure that YOU GET YOUR VAT REGISTRATION BEFORE YOU TAKE any Zero rated item to ZED. In other words, have a company registered (in Zambia) and obtain a VAT (unless they now give VAT Registration to individuals).
Not good enough 😕
Well, i do not know anything about this. Any help?????