Deficits are too high; cut down expenditure- CSOs advises govt

Civil Society Organisations have advised government to cut down on wasteful expenditure and avoid unplanned expenditure owing to the high fiscal deficit the country is facing.

The CSOs include the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD); ActionAid Zambia, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR),Platform for Social Protection (PSP) and the Zambia Council for Social Development ( ZCSD).

In a media statement issued today,the CSOs state that the country needs to ensure all expenditure is planned and based on clear priorities, especially in the current climate.

They however note with dismay occurrences of wasteful expenditure observed in the Auditor General’s reports were in the 2013 report, K354 million was attributed to wasteful expenditure.

They further cite the alleged recent importing of contaminated crude oil which has resulted in government incurring a loss of K10million.

The CSOs note that this kind of wastefulness is both inexcusable and unacceptable, adding that what has been even more regrettable is the silence of government on this matter and the lack of a meaningful attempt to address this loss.

They have since challenged government to government to clearly explain to the citizens who will bear the cost of this loss.

They state that a nation like Zambia, with many pressing social and economic needs, cannot afford to lose K10million.

They have since called for adherence to public procurement processes and guidelines as provided for under the public procurement Act and regulations of 2008 and 2011 respectively in the procurement process of oil.

And the CSOs have backed the position of the Grand Coalition (GC) on the People’s Driven Constitution and restated that the parliamentary route of adopting the Zambian Constitution is treacherous as it provides the government with a platform to alter the character of the final draft constitution through parliamentary debates.

They say this will dishonour the interests of the people of Zambia, who, through district, provincial and national consultation meetings, submitted their desired content of the constitution and through similar platforms, validated the draft.

They say they are convinced that taking the entire constitution to parliament is meant to make the public believe that government and President Edgar Lungu mean well.

The CSOs however,state that parliament and cabinet will have the power to uphold the party position and undo people’s submissions.

They have since called for the need to insulate the people’s will through legal backing, protecting the content from being altered by MPs.