UPND concerned 2016 budget does not mention poverty

The opposition UPND is concerned that there is no mention of how government will deal with poverty in the announced 2016 K53.14 billion national budget.

The UPND has taken note that, for example in Agriculture, the announced 2016 national budget is silent on pro-poor growth.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma says his party is of the view that the 2016 national budget has missed opportunities that the country has had to deal with the many challenges it is going through.

In a statement to Qfm News Mr. Kakoma says the UPND thinks that the unveiled budget for next year only demonstrates the danger of a government without a strong vision for the economy.

Charles Kakoma

Mr. Kakoma states that this is why it is very hard for his party to credit Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda with fiscal discipline in the budget he unveiled in Parliament on Friday yesterday.

He notes that the theme of the budget may be ‘fiscal consolidation to safeguard our past achievement and secure a prosperous future for all’ but yet at a time of economic difficulty the size of the Cabinet has been increased in size by 25% at great expense.

Mr. Kakoma has observed that this appears to be an unwise investment on behalf of the Zambian people as his party thinks the Government is not delivering value for money.

He notes that this clear mismatch between stated intentions and spending undermines the credibility of the Mr. Chikwanda’s budget address.

Mr. Kakoma says this is also the case on diversifying the economy as it appears to be an issue that has been regularly stated but no serious attempt to deliver has followed.

He says his party has also taken note that the Finance Minister did not do justice to the Tourism sector in his budget presentation.