The Ministry of Finance has commenced preparations for the 2015 National Budget and the 2015 to 2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
Ministry of Finance Public Relations Officer Chileshe Kandeta said in a media statement released to ZANIS today that government wants to make wide consultations on the budget formulation process.
He said the Ministry is inviting the public to make submissions on issues related to Tax and Non Tax Revenue matters for government consideration in formulating next year’s budget.
Mr Kandeta said the public have been given two months in which to participate in the budget formulation process and hoped that youths, women groups, the private sector and other stakeholders will submit their views before the deadline of July 31st 2014.
He said government wants to continue with the path of wealth and employment creation, and poverty reduction which have set the country on robust economic development.
Mr Kandeta said government will continue to streamline taxation and create an enabling environment for job creation and wealth generation for the Zambian people.
My suggestion on the budget is that those at the hem be fired. Once you remove Chikwanda and Gondwe things will be better.
Well the obvious solution is for Chikwanda to resign … But we will indulge this for a moment.
First; re-introduce subsidies on fuel as this has a waterfall effect on everything.
Then set a limit on the number of by-elections, say, only 5 per year.
Reduce or remove tax on farming implements (seeds, tractors, pick ups, etc) to encourage the agricultural sector.
Increase taxes for all mines.
Budget for a referendum to enact the new constitution.
Tax exports on all raw materials so as to encourage the export of finished products.
Finally; grovel to Angola and re-establish ties with them. Then sign a deal with them to deliver finished fuel products to Zambia. This should be done without the help of the Chinese or the American, or the Germans.
#OneZambia
Quite a challenge to channel public input.
Unfortunately, even at home with my own monthly income I have no clue how to get the best out my hard earn peanuts. But I hope brilliant economists from all parts of the country will help us present the best of ideas to this cause and hopefully the media would document their inputs so that we in the future have conclusive grounds whether indeed the government genuinely and objectively want the best possible way to utilise our resources .I believe those whose hearts bleed because of the poverty and plight of zambians wait only for an opportunity to help and not an opportunity to first get into leadership. Plse come to our rescue!