Friday 12 October 2012

K20 BILLION ALLOCATED FOR CONSTITUTION-MAKING PROCESS



Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda has announced that a total of K20 billion has been provided for the constitution making process in the 2013 national budget.
And over K2 trillion has been allocated towards the servicing of domestic and external debt in the 2013 national budget.
The Minister said that for general public services, a provision of K8.4 trillion or 26.2 percent of the budget has been made and that out of the amount a total of K2.4 trillion will go towards the servicing of domestic and external debt.
He also announced a 93.9 percent increment towards the allocation of council grants from a total of K257.1 billion in 2012 to K498.6 billion in 2013.
Mr. Chikwanda said that the move is intended to fiscally empower the local government ahead of sector devolution while adding that grants to councils have been restructured and increased.
The Minister said that an increased proportion of the grants to councils has been allocated to the restructuring grant to assist councils dismantle their debt and outstanding statutory and contractual obligations.
Meanwhile Mr. Chikwanda has said that a further K204 billion has been set aside to commence the construction of infrastructure for other government departments in the newly created districts and provincial capitals.
In public order and safety, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) have received a rise in allocation amounting to 11.2 percent translating into a total of K100 billion.
He said government will continue to strengthen the Zambia Police Service by recruiting and modernising their operations and that a total of K30 billion has been allocated for the modernisation of the service.
“I have also made sufficient provisions for the net recruitment of 800 police officers,” he said.
The Minister also disclosed that the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) will no longer undertake procurement on behalf of procuring entities but will be required to approve the use of direct bidding or single sourcing.
He said that the ZPPA‘s role will now be that of overseeing and regulating public procurement.

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