Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) says there is need for the 2016 national budget to be able to stimulate sectors that are critical to poverty reduction.
CSPR Executive Director Patrick Nshindano says much as it is important for government to focus on completing current infrastructure projects in the 2016 budget, there is need also for the 2016 budget to focus on poverty reduction.
Mr. Nshindano says the 2016 budget should be able to respond to the poverty challenges the country is facing, stating that focusing mainly on infrastructure development alone is not enough when a majority of the people are still wallowing in poverty.
Patrick Nshindano
He notes that country has in the recent years recorded positive economic growth which should translate into poverty reduction.
Mr Nshindano says this can be done through youth empowerment, promotion of small and medium scale farmers among other sectors that are critical to poverty reduction.
He states that direct poverty reduction will be realized if interventions in the fight against poverty are reflected in the 2016 budget alongside the completion of the infrastructure projects.
Mr Nshindano further states that it is CSPR’s hope that resources in the 2016 budget will be channeled to the youth policy recently launched by President Edgar Lungu so that it translates into actual poverty reduction among young people.