Government launches the national planning and budgeting policy

GOVERNMENT says the launch of its National Planning and Budgeting Policy will herald a new era of national planning and budgeting by streamlining processes and procedures that will be a veritable guide for both the executive and legislature in matters relating to national planning, budgeting, the consequential programme implementation and monitoring.

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda says the national planning and budgeting policy will be the platform for inclusiveness by affording the citizens a desirable opportunity to meaningfully make contributions and participate to the fullest extent possible, in the planning of the economy.

He said the policy will also give more practical meaning to parliament’s oversight role, in the process enhancing transparency and accountability.

The Finance Minister said the Act, when enacted by parliament will not only make it legally binding for programmes in the national development plans and national budgets to be firmly interlinked, but also make the processes effective operational tools for implementing and actualising national development plans.

The minister said this when he officially launched the national planning and budgeting policy in Lusaka yesterday .

He said past experience has taught government that over the years there have not been adequate comprehensive and coherent guidelines to anchor national planning that is firmly linked to the budget process.

He said as a consequence, development programmes and projects have not reflected elaborate appraisals, adding that there have been slippages in the outputs and outcomes with minimal impacts for beneficiaries.

Mr. Chikwanda explained that a major thrust of the policy is to arrest fragmentation of the key facets of the planning processes at all levels of government.

He said this will tone down resource waste, increase development impact and momentum and help to redress the high incidences of poverty which is not only morally unacceptable but also a big hindrance to accelerated and sustained development.

He said government wants to ensure that a systematic and effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism which is government-wide and informs decision making at all levels is put in place.

Mr. Chikwanda further explained that the policy has also entrenched key tenets of public financial management with a view to further reinforce transparency, in the allocation, execution and accounting for development results.

He said to this effect, national budgets will be prepared and presented in a results oriented manner to accord an opportunity to oversight institutions like parliament, auditor general’s office, including non-state actors to effectively track performance and hold implementing institutions accountable.

He said in addition, government will put in place systems and tools to reinforce attainment of results and accountability and these will include promoting the development of service delivery charters and enhancing labour productivity and other management systems.

Mr. Chikwanda said it is the government’s desire to ensure that national plans and programmes reflect people’s aspirations.
He said policy provides for more enhanced system of engagement with the people and also streamlines their participation at all levels.

The Minister said the role of the national assembly which is a link between the people and the executive as part of the process of strengthening oversight in national planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes has also been provided for in the document.

He also stated that in line with the national decentralization policy, the national planning and budgeting policy does also acknowledge and provide for the authority of districts to plan, budget and implement development plans and programmes for functions to be devolved to those levels.

Mr. Chikwanda said government will after the launch of this policy embark on a national-wide sensitization to enlighten people on the provisions of the policy so that citizens are aware of the duties, responsibilities and obligations of government as provided for under the policy in cognisant of the fact that citizenry participation will be cardinal in the successful implementation of the policy.

He has since encouraged all Zambians to read and digest the contents of the policy so that as many people as possible are informed of its provisions.