Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale
The Non Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) says it remains positive that the government will rise above the challenge and ensure that the 2017 National Budget is pro-poor.
And the organization expects to see increased allocations to key social sectors that have the potential to improve the situation of the disadvantaged people in society that include women and children.
In a statement made available to QFM News today, NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale has observed that while government projects accelerated economic growth in 2017, the outlook remains uncertain with the impending International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme.
Ms Mwale says her organization expects reduced government expenditure which, by and large, may hinder service delivery in critical sectors.
She has also urged the Patriotic Front (PF) government to ensure that prudent expenditure cuts are implemented without necessarily affecting support to critical sectors such as health and education.
The NGOCC Executive Director says her organization expects increased allocation to the health sector, specifically towards maternal and child health services so as to reduce the high maternal and child mortality rate.
She says in order to improve health care; her organization is urging the Government to progressively move towards allocating 15 percent of the total national budget to the health sector.
In the education sector, Ms Mwale says NGOCC is urging the government to increase the allocation to the education sector even beyond the current 20 percent portion of the total national budget.
She has also urged government to remove VAT on essential food items as outlined in the JCTR Basic Needs Basket such as mealie-meal, Beef, Cooking oil, Bread, Sugar, Milk, Salt as well as baby formular and sanitary towels.