Cabinet has approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 national budgets.
Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili says the 2016, 2017 and 2018 national budgets will be crafted based on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework will focus on infrastructure development in the social sector and job creation.
Mr. Kambwili, who also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, says the 2016 to 2018 Medium Term Expenditure is aimed at consolidating the macro-economic stability and creating fiscal space for vital public services.
The Minister told Journalists shortly after the 17th Cabinet meeting at held State House in Lusaka today.
And Mr. Kambwili said the 2016 budget will among many measures aim at completing the many infrastructure projects currently underway.
Mr Kambwili however said government will take decision to fund only critical infrastructures that will have immediate impact on the lives of the Zambian people.
He said Capital projects will be implemented through the Public Private Partnership in order to quicken the implementation without putting pressure on the Treasury.
And Mr. Kambwili said Cabinet has also approved the financing of the completion and upgrading of 98 maize storage, the project to be undertaken by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Mr. Kambwili the building of 98 storage sheds is aimed at reducing wasting of grain in the country due to unfavorable storage conditions.
Meanwhile, Mr Kambwili said there is no shortage of drugs in any of the health centers across the country as reported in some sections of the media.
He said the country has enough stock of drugs and urged all Zambians not to panic as government is monitoring the situation.
Below is the full statement
At its 17th Cabinet Meeting held today, the 24th August, 2015 at State House, Cabinet discussed two (2) substantive Agenda Items and the following is the summary of the decisions made:
1. The Green Paper on the 2015 – 2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2016 National Budget
Government, through the 2016 Budget, will aim at completing the many infrastructure projects that are currently underway countrywide and only start those that have an immediate impact on the lives of the people especially in health, education and generally, the social sectors.
Government will during the 2016-2018 medium term, consolidate its fiscal position in order to safeguard macroeconomic stability and create fiscal space for vital public services and infrastructure development such as roads, bridges, building of universities, schools, hospitals, clinics, and rural health centres among others.
Cabinet has decided that the macroeconomic and fiscal objectives for the medium term will aim at maintaining a positive and broad-based growth trajectory, macroeconomic stability and fiscal consolidation. Emphasis will be on the attainment of inclusive growth through the Sustainable Development Goals.
With the approval of the Green Paper by Cabinet, stakeholders are encouraged to study the document and provide comments that will assist Government refine its development objectives in the medium term.
Cabinet has also decided that major capital projects be undertaken through the Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) models to ensure that quicker project implementation without exerting cashflow pressures on the Treasury.
2. Design, Rehabilitation and Building of Grain Storage facilities through a Supply and Installation Agreement with Advanced African Solutions Limited
Under this Item, Cabinet approved to finance the completion and upgrading of 98 hard standing slabs into covered sheds to be undertaken by the Food Reserve Agency.
The country has been producing a lot of grain which in some cases, has been damaged due to unfavourable storage conditions. It is important, therefore, that the 98 standing slabs are upgraded to covered sheds to protect the grain and ensure food security for the people as we plan for the 2015 – 2016 farming season.
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Issued by:
Hon. Chishimba Kambwili
MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING SERVICES
(CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON)
New PF are now a bunch of dreamers. Why they dreaming of 3 years. Who can keep those 30 ministers for even a year?
@Nostradamus
just imagine,,, manje manje apa, they have even forgotten what they planned together with Sata,,, they are rushing into the future they dont know,,,, running away from the past they well know,,,
but chishimba,,, awe shuwe judas of the modern day,,,, refusing Sata today
They are more like the cupboard than the Cabinet, kikiki oweeee!
True. These ID!OTS are so dull that they do not even know they will be OUT in 2016!
Maybe even IN JAIL for abuse of Office and corruption!
Judas Iskalungu? Ndobo iwe!
It is difficult to think. Priorities. If Zambia’s economy is to be back on its track. Priority must be give to the following sectors:
1. Energy Sector
2. Manufacturing Sector
3. Construction
4. Education,Health ………………………………………
You fools dn’t you dat you are going
You fools dn’t you knw dat you are going?
These chaps think they will be back in office? A shock awaits them.
The same thing all the time with these reckless empty tins..no cost saving measures or costs cutting and managing within their reduced spending allocation without including debt…its all wasting monies under this selfsame Infrastructure Development.
I thought they would be volunteering to step down from their cabinet because their boss has failed to trim his cabinet.
Mwebantu do we need a Ministry of Information? What for? The salaries of this ministry can be saved for many projects
kikikiki…this cabinet has really made my night….abanesu they’ve gone beyond boundaries…..can somebody please wake these people up….who r they trying to impress?..what kind of jobs are they going to create in future which they couldn’t create in the past?…..day dreaming at it’s highest level.
Hog wash and drivel. Empty campaign talk. Tell that to your wives and girl friends. Since when did this cabinet start to have brains and intelligence?
I can’t read any sensible comments from all bloggers. What’s wrong in the opposition camp. All useless comments. Grow a brain. We’ve being in the opposition before and we understand how to oppose objectively
When PF was in opposition they used to scream at everything the govt did, so wat nonsense are you telling us where you want us to agree with day dreamers. Can someone tell what tangible thing that ECL has done since being in office apart from being a Master tourist who is busy campaigning. ZNBC, Times and Daily Mail every day its Lungu and Esther. Its now their personal media. Even RB didn’t abuse state resources this way.
Corruption is at its highest levels and we are told to report corrupt leaders when after 2 days in prison they are pardoned. Others even fake illness like Liato who is bedridden but suddenly stands when he hears that he has been pardoned. The Doctor who indicated that his illness was life threating must be investigated coz how is someone abt to die wakes and able to…
I totally agree with vampire. Lets argue objectively other than going into a frenzy of subjective negative commentaries even when the truth is presented right under our big noses!
No wonder I agree with Hon.George Mpombo on his assertion that there no opposition in the country.Government has given you the measures they will undertake to counter factors that are affecting the growth our economy,the ‘so called’ opposition is just showering government with all sorts of insults instead of debating the measures in question.Grow up or else u will never form government.
The wisest cabinate keep it up for that plan.
Panic mode has hit these bunch of jokers now,reality has slowly crept in that next year will be elections.They want to show the masses that they have delivered on the over procured road, universities and new district infrastructure.Even a fool will know that most projects are if not a dream,e.g link 2000 is no where on the Copperbelt, in Lusaka it is just in Chawama and I think they have only done less than 10 km’s,meaning some of these projects will know be a cost to the treasury as they can’t be completed in the agreed time frame. Zambians come 2016 lets stand up and show these chaps who the boss is.
Just checked the live currency exchange rates. 1 US dollar is 8.4 Kwacha and 1 Pound is 13.3 Kwacha.
Is there anything in the medium whatever whatever above, that addresses this?
Ba UPND all you do is criticise every thing PF does , Zambians are tired of this can’t you realise thats why you keep losing elections. Its 7 out of 7 for Edgar Chagwa Lungu
THIS GOVERNMENT REMINDS YOU OF A PROPERLY MARRIED COUPLE WHICH, AFTER HAVING 15 CHILDREN WALK INTO A FAMILY PLANNING CLINIC FOR ADVICE AND FAMILY PLANNING TIPS. THIS GOVERNMENT WAS PROPERLY VOTED INTO POWER, THEY DID EVERYTHING SO WRONG IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME AND NOW THEY ARE LOOKING TO PUT MEASURES IN PLACE TO SOLVE. THIS IS A SURVIVAL PLAN TO COMR BACK AND PLUNDER MORE ONCE AGAIN.
i thought that is a role of parliament, to approve the budget?
Let me guess- Borrow, borrow and borrow more….