Cross section of society  has rated as progressive and a clear developmental road map for Zambia the proposed K167.3 billion Kwacha 2023 national budget unveiled by the Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane at Parliament on Friday.

British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Woolley says  it was clear from the budget government’s commitment to enhance the development agenda into the eighth national development plan.

Mr. Woolley observes that  the new proposed national budget shows a clear focus on various reforms that the government has identified to unlock economic growth while dealing with the country’s debt situation.

Speaking in an interview in Lusaka, The High Commissioner also noted a visionary budget that prioritized the social sectors through the development of education, health and expansion of the social protection scheme.

The British Envoy also noted a clear desire for investment policies that will unlock investment in business, renewables and clean energies sectors.

“In all these issues, Zambia is in close partnership with the United Kingdom, referencing the agreement between Zambia and the United Kingdom to generate further trade to invest in green growth,” Mr. Woolley stated.

 Midlands West Conference president Gabriel Mulambwa described the budget as a response to the plights of especially the poor.

Pastor Mulambwa cited the increase of the constituency development fund from the current  K 25.7 million to  K 28.3 million and the re-introduction of meal allowances,  as major developments.

He noted whatever attends to the general citizenry is good news for the church, thus looking forward to the implementation stage.

“As members of parliament deliberate on it and endorse the proposed budget, we look forward to 2023 as a progressive year,”  the clergyman indicated.

Meanwhile, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Chishimba Nkole says his union is happy that the news dawn government received the submissions positively.

Mr. Chishimba said that the government has proved that it indeed went through the proposals as the budget met the union’s expectations especially in areas like tourism, and pay as you earn threshold.

Mporokoso Member of Parliament and leader of the opposition Brian Mundubile supported the plans by the government to improve water and sanitation for public facilities especially in rural parts of the country.

Mr. Mundublibe noted the importance of clean and safe water in operating facilities such as health institutions and schools, as well as rural communities.

Nalolo Member of Parliament Imanga Wamunyima called for an increased expenditure of the CDF by working on the bottlenecks mitigating the full use of the funds.

Mr. Wamunyima said the CDF Act should be amended so that it can address the current challenges being faced in the utilization of the CDF.

The Zambia Chamber of Mines ( ZCM ) has welcomed government’s pronouncements in the mining sector which were unveiled by Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane when he presented the 2023 National Budget to Parliament yesterday.

Zambia Chamber of Mines President, Godwin Beene says  Dr. Musokotwane’s sentiments on how the  neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo has overtaken Zambia in the area of production over the last decade is a sign that improving production to new heights is top of the agenda.

During his Budget presentation on Friday,  the Finance Minister also expressed worry that Zambia’s production has stagnated at around 800 thousand metric tonnes of which Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed Zambia.

The Chamber of Mines president added that Government showing determination to maintaining policy and tax consistency will improve production.

“We believe this is a budget for growth. The Minister himself has been pushing for 3 million tonnes for Zambia. He has attended to artisanal and small scale miners needs in Zambia.

“  He has attended to the need for the mining industry to produce. There is a lot to do but we believe we are on the right track,” Dr Beene said.

And Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Paul Kabuswe says formalization of artisanal and small scale mining is in line with the Mining Policy which will be launched soon.

Mr Kabuswe disclosed that the policy is complete awaiting cabinet approval stressing that small scale and artisanal mining is a critical component of the ministry.

“You heard that resources have been allocated to make sure that Zambian who have access to licenses can be given equipment Resources have been allocated to the procurement of equipment that should support the artisanals and small scale miners.

“ For me this a very exciting budget because it has gone ahead even before we introducer the mining policy which will also trigger us to look at the Mines and Mineral Act to amend certain clauses,” Mr Kabuswe said.

During the presentation of  K 167.3 billion  worth National Budget, Dr Musokotwane made various pronouncements which include restructuring the mineral royalty regime with respect to copper.

The tax will now apply on the incremental value in each adjusted price band as opposed to the aggregate value when the price crosses the respective price threshold.

The Minister also announced formalization of small scale and artisanal mining.

The Finance Minister pledged that to ensure competitiveness with neighbouring D.R Congo in copper production government will restore mineral production by maintaining policy and tax consistency among other measures.

Government has set aside K665.9 million for the recruitment of 7,500 workers in the education and health sector from the proposed K167.3 billion for 2023 national budget.

Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, proposed to spend K358.4 million on the recruitment of 4,500 additional teachers while K307.5 million to be allocated to the recruitment of 3,000 additional health personnel.

Speaking when he presented the 2023 proposed national budget to parliament today, Dr. Musokotwane disclosed that the government has allocated K23.2 billion, representing 13.9 percent of the total budget to the education function.

He explained that the allocation reflects the government’s continued commitment to facilitating the empowerment of citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to fight poverty and illiteracy.

The minister added that K1.5 billion is for the construction, rehabilitation and completion of ongoing school infrastructure in all the ten provinces.

And for higher education, Dr. Musokotwane revealed that the government will re-introduce student meal allowances in 2023.

“In light of the high premium that this government places on education, I have allocated K930.2 million to the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board, to cater for student bursaries and the re-introduction of student meal allowances,” Dr. Musokotwane disclosed.

In an effort to ensure that learners receive quality education, the Minister allocated K40 million for regular inspection and supervision of schools.

Meanwhile, Dr. Musokotwane proposed to spend K17.4 billion of the budget on health to improve the provision of quality health care.

Of the amount, Dr. Musokotwane stated that K4.6 billion is for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies, representing an increase of K1.2 billion, while he also allocated K1.1 billion for the construction, completion and rehabilitation of health facilities across the country.

He further proposed to spend K900 million on the procurement of medical equipment and ambulances, an increase of 383 percent from K186.4 million in this year’s budget.

The minister noted that the intervention will not only prevent the loss of lives, but will also minimise the stress that people experience in seeking medical attention.Government has set aside K665.9 million for the recruitment of 7,500 workers in the education and health sector from the proposed K167.3 billion for 2023 national budget.

Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, proposed to spend K358.4 million on the recruitment of 4,500 additional teachers while K307.5 million to be allocated to the recruitment of 3,000 additional health personnel.

Speaking when he presented the 2023 proposed national budget to parliament today, Dr. Musokotwane disclosed that the government has allocated K23.2 billion, representing 13.9 percent of the total budget to the education function.

He explained that the allocation reflects the government’s continued commitment to facilitating the empowerment of citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to fight poverty and illiteracy.

The minister added that K1.5 billion is for the construction, rehabilitation and completion of ongoing school infrastructure in all the ten provinces.

And for higher education, Dr. Musokotwane revealed that the government will re-introduce student meal allowances in 2023.

“In light of the high premium that this government places on education, I have allocated K930.2 million to the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board, to cater for student bursaries and the re-introduction of student meal allowances,” Dr. Musokotwane disclosed.

In an effort to ensure that learners receive quality education, the Minister allocated K40 million for regular inspection and supervision of schools.

Meanwhile, Dr. Musokotwane proposed to spend K17.4 billion of the budget on health to improve the provision of quality health care.

Of the amount, Dr. Musokotwane stated that K4.6 billion is for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies, representing an increase of K1.2 billion, while he also allocated K1.1 billion for the construction, completion and rehabilitation of health facilities across the country.

He further proposed to spend K900 million on the procurement of medical equipment and ambulances, an increase of 383 percent from K186.4 million in this year’s budget.

The minister noted that the intervention will not only prevent the loss of lives, but will also minimise the stress that people experience in seeking medical attention.

And in order to improve the provision of safe and clean water, adequate sanitation and decent housing, Dr. Musokotwane proposed to spend K2.6 billion of the budget on housing and community amenities.

The minister also proposed to increase the allocation to the Social Cash Transfer Programme by 19.8 percent to K3.7 billion from K3.1 billion this year.

He further allocated K1.2 billion for the Food Security Pack to support the vulnerable but viable farmers and K133.5 million towards the Keeping Girls in School Programme.

And in order to improve the provision of safe and clean water, adequate sanitation and decent housing, Dr. Musokotwane proposed to spend K2.6 billion of the budget on housing and community amenities.

The minister also proposed to increase the allocation to the Social Cash Transfer Programme by 19.8 percent to K3.7 billion from K3.1 billion this year.

He further allocated K1.2 billion for the Food Security Pack to support the vulnerable but viable farmers and K133.5 million towards the Keeping Girls in School Programme.

Government  says it is concerned with the high levels of moral decay such as, sodomy, teenage pregnancies, alcohol abuse, and gender based violence ( GBV )  in the country.

Vice President, Mutale Nalumango says the church should therefore join hands with government to aggressively fight the prevailing social ills.

ZANIS reports that speaking when she joined hundreds of Adventists at Pamodzi Central Seventh Day Adventist Church during a fundraising function, Mrs. Nalumango said government is concerned with the levels of the vices.

“I want to assure you that government is taking critical steps towards making Zambia a Christian nation that we all desire. A nation where there is peace and harmony, respect for the rule of law and order, and above all, our Christianity is reflected in our everyday actions.

“ When I engaged the leaders of the church mother bodies last week, I was assured of this commitment. For this, government remains grateful, ” she said.

Mrs. Nalumango also assured the church that  government will and shall uphold the tenets of Christianity.

She added that the church should collaborate with government in delivering inclusive developmental programmes which are designed to empower people.

Meanwhile, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Elijah Muchima  has assured the over 300 families who were displaced in Chingola’s Kasompe Township after their houses built near the airstrip were demolished will be given alternative land.

Mr. Muchima told journalists in an interview that the alternative land has been identified and is being numbered at the ministry.

He said Government will ensure that all the displaced families are resettled accordingly and issued with title deeds.

“Regarding the issue in Kasompe, there is a good hand from somewhere, there is land which has been set for numbering now at my ministry. We will soon come to Kasompe and those people will be settled nicely and given title deeds,” Mr. Muchima said.

The Chingola Municipal Council recently demolished over 300 structures illegally built on the Kasompe Airstrip, a land on title and belonging to Zambia Civil Aviation Authority.

The development unsettled a cross section of society out of which arose calls for compensation of the affected families that had settled on the piece of land.

And  Mr. Muchima says his ministry  is set to investigate the matter in which some residents in Ndola’s BwanaMkubwa constituency burnt a front end loader after an attempt to demolish some structures on disputed land.

He said he will soon be constituting a team from his ministry to establish the contention and chart the way forward on the matter.

“As Government, we want to take care of our people, this matter is going to be investigated thoroughly and I will be coming back to Ndola to find out whatever it is then we shall take corrective decision but we do not interfere with the court’s decision.

“Of course if there is court order, we have to discuss with my colleagues in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to see how we can handle the situation. We don’t want our people to be thrown away just like that,” Mr. Muchima said.

An unidentified man has been beaten to death in Mwanga village of Nakonde district in Muchinga province.

Muchinga Police Deputy Commanding Officer, Lucky Munkondya, said the deceased was allegedly killed by a group of motorbike riders from Nakonde town who accused him of stealing a motorbike.

Ms. Munkondya, who confirmed the incident to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Nakonde today, stated that the incident happened on September 29, 2022 around 16:00 hours near Mwanga primary school.

“A group of people believed to be Nakonde residents went with motorbikes in the village and got the now deceased from where he was hiding and started beating him,” she said.

She said it is believed that the victim fled to Mwanga village to seek refuge after allegedly stealing a motorbike.
Ms. Munkondya disclosed that the offenders used sticks, iron bars and stones in the act.

“After catching him, the mob took the now deceased away and along the road leading to Mwanga primary school. They started beating him with sticks, iron bars and stones until he died. Thereafter they jumped onto their motorcycles and rode away,” she said.

She added that the matter was later reported to Nakonde Police Station by Matthews Chansa, a teacher at Mwanga primary school.

Ms. Munkondya revealed that the police officers who visited the scene found the body lying facing down with several body injuries and tied hands.

She said the body has since been deposited at Nakonde district hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem and identification while investigations are underway.

“The docket has since been opened and no arrests have been made yet. Efforts are being made to bring the culprits to book,” she said.

The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has increased the price of petroleum products by K1.20 for petrol and K3.04 for diesel while the price of paraffin has been reduced by 65 ngwee effective midnight today.

The new price for one litre of petrol is K22.74 from K21.54 while that of low sulfur diesel is K26.16 from K23.12 and a litre of kerosene will now cost K16.06 from K16.71.

Jet A-1 fuel will now cost K26.69 per litre from K26.50.

ERB Board Chairperson, Reynolds Bowa announced the adjustment of the pump price of petroleum products at a press briefing in Lusaka today.

Mr. Bowa further announced that the board has also commenced the full regulation of retail price of Jet A -1 at airports, which will be determined by applicable prices on a monthly basis.

He stated that the regulated Jet A-1 price has been set at K20.69 per litre for the month of October,2022.

Mr. Bowa said the regulation on Jet A-1 prices have been necessitated by the need to attain regional competitiveness.

He noted that the changes in the pump prices and the posted airfield price are due to trends in the global petroleum prices and the exchange rate of the United States dollars to the Zambian Kwacha in the period between the last and the current price review.

“Specifically, international oil prices continued to decline due to the global slowdown. This is aimed at concerns of inflationary pressure worldwide, anticipated slowdown of global economic growth and continued fears of global recession,” he explained.

Mr. Bowa further said during the review period, the Zambian Kwacha continued to appreciate mainly due to increased supply of foreign exchange on the market on the backdrop of the continued positive market sentiments following the conclusion of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) package in August 2022.

He explained that since the last price review in August, the Kwacha appreciated month on month by 3.23 percent from an average of K16.12 per United States dollar to K15.60 per United States dollar.

“In September 2022, government issued statutory instrument No.59 on value added tax (VAT) and No.44 of 2022 on customs and excise duty in order to restore taxes on Petroleum products which were revised in January 2021. The taxes which have been restored are excise duty and VAT,” Mr. Bowa said.

The ERB Board Chairperson said the government has restored excise duty from K0.64 per litre to K2.07 per litre while VAT has been restored from zero percent to 16 percent on petrol.

Mr. Bowa added that on diesel, the government has also restored excise duty from zero Kwacha per litre to K0.66 per litre while VAT has been restored from zero percent to 16 percent.

He said this is in line with ERB pricing mechanism, the combined effectiveness of the charges in the three factors exchange rate, international oil prices and taxes which has resulted in the determined charges in the national uniform pump prices for October.

The Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) has hailed government for the K167 billion proposed budget for 2023.

ZACCI President, Chabusha Kawesha said the proposed 2023 national budget demonstrates that government listens and builds the credibility of the Zambian market.

Mr. Kawesha said this in a press statement issued to ZANIS in reaction to the proposed budget which Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, presented to parliament today.

He explained that the income pressure has been balanced for both individual and corporate income.

He said the proposed budget will stimulate growth for improved livelihoods as highlighted in various strategic development areas.

Mr. Kawesha further said from the budget overview, sub-sectors like agriculture, tourism, information technology, telecommunications and mining lead in terms of job creation.

He further praised government for giving attention to the education sub-sector with a notable objective of changing the curriculum and skills development which he said will add value to learners.

He said the call for a stronger platform in churning out industry ready graduates will be resolved with such measures highlighted in the budget.

“I call upon the private sector to leverage on focus placed on science, technology and innovation to invest in research and development,” Mr. Kawesha said.

On the measure for further liberalisation of the petroleum energy sub-sector, Mr. Kawesha said this has been long overdue.

He said it was pleasing that the UPND government has done it.

He said this will allow private players to invest and compete effectively, adding that competition will eventually trigger price reductions.

The ZACCI President further noted that the planned advancements in the area of electrification will increase industrial spots countrywide thereby boosting the processing subsector.

“It is our belief that policies surrounding the public private partnership framework will be accelerated in implementation as the initiatives they bring will impact economic growth,” he said.

Mr. Kawesha added that the budget approach for 2023 will speak to a lot of enablers as most areas of the economy stand to benefit from it.

Finance and National planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, has unveiled a proposed K167 billion national budget for 2023 to cater for all sectors of the economy.