Secretary to the Treasury Felix Nkulukusa ha said that political interference in the procurement process has led to companies being paid for projects they have not fully implemented.
Mr Nkulukusa said that this practice has consequently weakened Zambia’s macro economic performance because of lack of transparency therefore making budget credibility weak.
Mr. Nkulukusa said that Zambia’s transparency score over the years has been very low with public participation recording 20 out of 100 while budget oversight being 46 out of 100.
Mr. Nkulukusa said that regional comparisons have shown that Zambia only managed to beat Malawi in budget transparency scoring 30 out of 100.
Making a presentation on Zambia’s economic performance to local authority officials from about 33 councils from Eastern, Lusaka and Central Provinces in Chongwe today, Mr. Nkulukusa said lack of citizens’ involvement in the budget process has led to abuse of resources thereby affecting its implementation.
He said the new dawn government is, therefore, sealing off such loopholes through the decentralisation process of giving citizens the authority to decide on areas that CDF will be used.
Mr Nkulukusa also stated that weak oversight and political interference especially in the procurement process has also contributed to weakening the economy as there has NOT been enforcement from the Zambia Public Procurement Agency (ZPPA).
He said weak internal controls and oversight have resulted in over procurement with institutions like the National Road Fund Agency -NRFA- having contracted over 1-thousand projects worth over 1-hundred billion kwacha against an annual allocation of 3-billion kwacha.
Mr Nkulusa said these challenges have led to unstable macroeconomic environment leading to increased borrowing thereby affecting fiscal stability.
He, however, said Zambia has to reposition its development strategy to avoid borrowing more which will worsen the situation.
Mr. Nkulukusa said the country needs to undertake structural reforms of key sectors, provide fiscal incentives to promote investments and trade, taking advantage of its neighbouring countries as markets.
And, Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Technical Services Wisdom Bwalya said the team participants have been engaged in discussions the past few days.
Mr. Bwalya added that he wants the existing animosity between management of the councils and unions to end through harmonization.
The PS further noted that he will not take kindly the unions harassing the principal officers while calling on the principal officers to respect the unions because he wants both parties to move together.
Stop using tired expressions. We want to know (1) What you are doing, (2) Where the recovered loot is, (3) Who stole from us (even if they have repented and voluntarily brought back what they stole). Va ma promises ivo as well as blaming history will shorten your tenure to one term. Be careful.
@ Kalok
Its a pitty that it require you to have a grade 12 certifcate to see the implication of what the man is saying
When history is rewritten 100 years from now, Lungu and his GRZ will be found to be be the most corrupt, ever………..
Talk talk talk….as if you’re going to be any different.
Just yapping and always trying to blame their failures on the previous government. You were confident and promised heaven on earth. So why are you still complaining like a pregnant mongoose!
Criminalise political lobbying when it comes to precurement and handling of public finances. Assign responsibility to who ever authorises such dodgy deals so that they can account for their deeds when things go wrong. We have too many proxies operating on behalf of thieves.
@TheEngineer, nisiye na Grade 9 yanga wee. At least I know how to spell pity. Ngati suukonda kakambidwe kanga nizako izo bululu.
Correct the misdeeds of people who were given the responsibility to manage our resources and did the the exact opposite of our expectations. I appreciate this wont be a one day job that’s why 95% of your effort should be directed at what you will do to start immediately improving peoples lives. We have suffered for a long time and would love to see fertilizer costing K250 and fuel costing K3/liter as no jargon was mentioned when these promises were being made. I want the UPND to succeed by delivering on some of there promises because i know they are incapable of delivering on 100% of their promises being politicians.
Correct the misdeeds of people who were given the responsibility to manage our resources and did the the exact opposite of our expectations by holding people to account and possible prosecution. I appreciate this wont be a one day job that’s why 95% of your effort should be directed at what you will do to start immediately improving peoples lives. We have suffered for a long time and would love to see fertilizer costing K250 and fuel costing K3/liter as no jargon was mentioned when these promises were being made. I want the UPND to succeed by delivering on some of there promises because i know they are incapable of delivering on 100% of their promises being politicians.
Sorry meant to say, ”Correct the misdeeds of people who were given the responsibility to manage our resources and did the the exact opposite of our expectations by holding them to account and possible prosecution where necessary. I appreciate this wont be a one day job that’s why 95% of your effort should be directed at what you will do to immediately start improving peoples lives. We have suffered for a long time and would love to see fertilizer costing K250 and fuel costing K13/liter as no jargon was mentioned when these promises were being made. I want the UPND to succeed by delivering on some of there promises because i know they are incapable of delivering on 100% of their promises being politicians. However 95% delivery on promises is very much possible. I don’t want UPND to…
Mr Nkulusa it’s all about yapping! get to work bafikamba imwee! suicidal cases in on the raise in Zambia. Your Boss is busy drawing tough decision, and you Nkulusa busy preaching history. Stories don’t put tomato on the table.