The Ministry of Finance and National Planning has successfully hosted a high-level engagement for finance ministers at the country’s embassy in the United States of America, Washington D.C. aimed at encouraging water and sanitation to be treated as a critical economic priority.
The gathering aimed to highlight water and sanitation as integral to Zambia’s economic agenda, not mere social-sector add-ons.
Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane who was the keynote speaker at the meeting, emphasised that water security will continue to be given the priority it deserves in fiscal frameworks.
Dr Musokotwane noted that while Zambia has increased allocations to the sector, financing gaps remain significant relative to development targets as well as demand.
He also highlighted that Zambia was moving towards an inclusive approach that combines fiscal prioritisation, decentralised financing like the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), among other positive efforts to attract private capital.
Dr Musokotwane noted that this was being actualised through improved governance alongside project management in the country.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Finance, Mulele Mulele called for water security to be elevated further as an integral economic priority.
“Countries that fail to secure water, will struggle to sustain growth, manage inflation and protect livelihoods,” he said.
Mr Mulele highlighted the strong need to strengthen water utilities through improved governance and efforts among others to reduce losses, further calling for greater use of concessional financing and domestic resources.
The meeting which was held on the sidelines of the ongoing Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), brought together key stakeholders from the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership.
The initiative was attended by finance ministers and senior officials in the sector from Zambia, Malawi, Chad, and other countries.
This development also underscores Zambia’s commitment to promoting economic growth and development, while also addressing critical social and environmental issues.
This man has spent a combined 20 years in government and continues to rely on the same approach of asking foreign institutions or governments to address Zambia’s challenges. Rather than perpetually seeking aid, why not implement meaningful taxes on the mining companies in Zambia that are generating billions in annual profits? These funds could be used to support development and social programs such as water and sanitation.
Why not just allow private enteprise to install and provide an effiecent and cost effective service that people wil pay for? This is how the world works….
@Paul which world? Governments all over the world provide free or very subsidised water. Because water is a basic right
62 years after Independence, most taps are dry. Even for towns like Kafue which is by Kafue river or Livingstone which is by the Zambezi river. Do these guys know that their jobs have a provision of resigning once one fails the way they have failed?
I stay in Livingstone, the Zambezi is overflowing at the bottom of the road yet SWASCO (Southern Water and Sourage Co) are unable to give us water…. its embarrasing to say the least…
Zambia Malawi Chad Uganda prefer to meet in Washington.
To encourage african water and sanitation to be treated as a critical economic priority.
Why was this held in the US? Corruption and side business and benefits
he forgot to mention that we commissioned our first outdoor toilets on the CB
FIRST should be education we need a literate society
the only reasons your grz survives is that 80% is only SEMI literate
and accept the nonsese politicians spew out
Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Water and sanitation is economic backbone