The Ministry of Finance in November 2018 released a total of K4.8 Billion to finance public service operations and sustain service delivery.
Of this amount, K943 million was funded to service both the domestic and external debt; K940 million went towards grants to various institutions; K1 billion was released to finance various government projects, programmes and general operations; and, K1.9 billion went towards the public service wage bill.
The Treasury also released a total of K169.3 million as Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in November 2018, to support various community-based projects in all constituencies.
Commenting on November 2018 budget releases, Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe says the reforms related to the removal of consumption subsidies and the austerity measures which the Government has implemented are now bearing fruit as seen by the timely releases of funds to productive sectors such as agriculture and to social sectors such as education, health, and public welfare.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe has called on Ministries, Provinces and other Controlling Bodies to remain instrumental in actualizing President Edgar Lungu’s vision of developing the country without leaving anyone behind by ensuring that there is prudence in the management and utilization of public resources at all times.
She has also indicated that this is first time in long-time that the Treasury has not lagged behind in releasing resources for the Constituency Development Fund.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe added that as soon as the 2019 National Budget is approved, Members of Parliament, in collaboration with other stakeholders in their jurisdictions, will have an opportunity to focus on community initiatives using the released CDF resources.
Of the K4.8 billion total funding for November 2018, releases for capital expenditure totalled K422.9 million, of which K193.2 million was for payment towards continued works and completion of road projects across the country, K10.6 million went towards the Rural Electrification Programme, and K49.8 million for other capital expenditure programmes across the nation.
In order to continue reducing the country’s indebtedness and ensure fiscal sustainability as projected in the Economic Stabilisation and Growth Programme [ESGP] and the Medium Term Debt Strategy [MTDS], the Government released a sum of K942 million in November 2018 for payments towards both domestic and external debt obligations. This is a practice to which the Ministry remains committed.
With regard to support for agriculture development, the Treasury released a sum of K458.7 million towards the Farmer Input Support Programme.
The money will cater for the speedy implementation of the FISP programme during the current 2018/2019 farming season, through both the e-Voucher and the direct redeeming programme windows.
For the purpose of clarity, the Ministry of Finance said some of the funds from the K458.7 million were allocated to the process of dismantling outstanding bills under the FISP programme.
The total amount released towards the FISP programme now stands at K1.74 billion from January 2018 to end November, 2018.
The Food Reserve Agency also received K50 million in November 2018 to liquidate some outstanding bills and to procure maize and other grains in accordance with state stipulations for strategic reserve requirements.
Further, a sum of K46.1 million was released to liquidate outstanding liabilities related to the consumption of goods and services by various line Ministries, Provinces and Spending Agencies. This brings the total amount released in 2018 for dismantling arrears to K379.3 million.
The Treasury further released K142 million to support the activities and operations of various central government institutions. Of this amount K50 million went towards the procurement of drugs and medical supplies in public health institutions. In addition, public grants for supporting the operations of various public institutions such as hospitals and other medical institutions amounted to K60.6 million, while universities and schools country-wide got K116.3 million.
In order to achieve the timely payment of November salaries for various public service workers, including teaching, medical and security personnel, the Government spent a total of K1.9 billion on the Public Service Wage Bill (Personal Emoluments).
The Zambia Revenue Authority received K66.2 million during the month under review to ensure that the strengthened domestic resource mobilisation drive remains on course. K89.9 million went towards supporting the operations of local authorities across the country through the Local Government Equalisation Fund (LGEF) and a further K180.5 million was released in November 2018 to support the operations of other public entities and quasi-governmental organisations.
This is contained in a statement issued to the media by Ministry of Finance spokesperson Chileshe Kandeta.
Zambia has not engaged in any austerity measures.
Really madam minister?
Is that why Lungu has bought a VVVVIP jet?
Or why you ministers have awarded yourselves pay rises?
Get real minister, you do not fool us.
Really madam minister?
Is that why Lungu has bought a VVVVIP jet?
Or why you ministers have awarded yourselves pay rises?
Get real minister, you can not mislead us.
“Mrs. Mwanakatwe has called on Ministries, Provinces and other Controlling Bodies to remain instrumental in actualizing President Edgar Lungu’s vision of developing the country without leaving anyone behind by ensuring that there is prudence in the management and utilization of public resources at all times.”
You seriously call this a vision in this day and age…really laughable..talk about the obvious!!
“In November 2018 they released a total of K4.8 Billion ….Of this amount, K943 million was funded to service both the domestic and external debt; K940 million went towards grants to various institutions…. K1.9 billion went towards the public service wage bill”
Surely any accountant would see something wrong with this picture…you have this drunkard clown here spending K943 million to pay debt yet spending a whooping K1.9 billion for wages …yet these people just increased their salaries and backdated them instead of cutting back and even laying off civil servants…how can someone stand up and state that austerity is bearing fruit?? What a silly drunkard for a Finance Minister
Austerity measures you examination leaks benefactors.
Let’s roll! It is UNELECTABLE!
The embassies are open today..PF useful monkey is working….yesterday the boy was off!!
Let’s roll …
This government of thieves has lost all credibility with investors and donors. You take all the pronouncements they make with a pinch of salt, they have lied at every turn. The whole lot ought to be bundled to Mukobeko when they loose the election in 2021.
What about those anti riot vehicles you have purchased from South Africa, can you advice costs and exhorbitant mark up that funds PF operations?
Buying Riot vehicles that will be parked most of the time or used to ferry logs and cement for top brass!!
Oh please shut up.
All talk and no action with this lot, holding meeting about some road in some bush in Congo in SA and they say austerity,purchasing a fleet of cars recently and you say austerity!!please spare us and preach to those who listen to your nonsense.
Someone please help me understand! Where does the retirees fall in the monies that were released? Why is this government not taking care of the people who served this country diligently? Why are the retirees left to fend for themselves surely? The sad part is that , it is longer a good thing to retire in this country even after working for so long, why? Surely someone must come to the aid of this poor souls roaming the streets after all the donkey work they did in their working life….who will help the retirees please! they are tired of waiting for there money please tapapataa…..Ba penga pafula.mmmmm nayaa ineee.!
maybe next time ..that money went to dated Ministers salary increments
we can see fools comments please give as space all u know is pull him down what kind of hatefull people is this upnd chaps
When I see it I also get the same laughter disease!
Really laughable …only an educated fooool like JUNIOR would cheer to such folly…no wonder these fooools are spending K370,000 on a tree that has managed on it for 50 years!!
Laughing gas syndrome. TRIBALISM queen.
I am non partisan but extremely shocked with what is called ZNBC main news at 19 hrs yesterday. The first 20 minutes of the 30 minutes news was just about PF. It was Makebi Zulu, Tutwa Ngulube, Sunday Chanda. Of course all three non factors in the uplifting of welfare of Zambians i am told. You primitive people ZNBC management, that institution is a public thing run by tax payers money. Since I don’t stay in Zambia, when I enquired I am told the institution even has a Director General. And somebody whispered to me that your country is a democracy, somebody further whispered to me that the same TV station shows cadre defections to the ruling party only. What a mockery of democracy. Wake up
You say you are shocked…really laughable…have you just woken up from a 10 year coma!!
UPND: Evil hearts, mad hearts and bitter hearts.
I guess she or he has!
Manga matako osa shula…..tax them some more, maybe next time they will dance dunnuna in straight lines….
How bout we talk about the austere measures you wish to impose on medicines??? Where the registration of 1 single panadol will now cost US$4000! What are we going to pay for our life saving BP medications?? All this trickles down to the patient! When the dollar shot up, the medicine prices also rose, and some poverty stricken patients stopped taking their meds. You want to increase that number? Imagine your family saying they’d rather just die.
So much for being pro-poor!
Join me in starting a campaign to make Freedom Sikazwe Presidential candidate in 2026, the man is always smiling and I think he would lift the mood of the president. We need to first convince ECL to make him his running mate 2021 with the idea he takes over in 2026.
#freedomsikazweforvicepresident2021
#freedomsikazweforpresident2026
It’s a good report on Gov expenditure to budgets It will be even better if it was provided as a “2018 or 2019 Quarterly Fiscal Update together and consolidated economic Statement reports with same report lines as presented in the national Budget Its good statement and efforts towards fiscal consolidation and planning including Transparency in Gov Revenues and Expenditures called by many including the local think tanks Though there is no single form of report or statement and the minister has discretion, the same form as in budget and explained in the notes will be straight forward form non finance people to follow The notes in the economic Statement will normally…
normally include comparisons between the Budget estimates and actual in those quarter or monthly whenever desired necessary But since its simply a statement and can be issued at anytime Its good towards transparency and performance
The minister has managed to control and steer in the right direction and can only be complemented and supported
Investor confidence is also back and assured of longterm
I m sure you have seen of late a lot pledges and Donar funding even on this social media Its this reporting that matters
Hahahahahahaha!!!! This minister should tour with Bob nkosha and zambia comedy group. She is so funny!!!!
When grow up I want to lying like maggie
K167 million CDF for all constituents meaning we could have built only three toll gates from the CDF meant for the entire country lol this is Zambia indeed