2017 National Budget should reduce fiscal deficit – ZCSD

Lewis Mwape

The Zambia Council of Social Development (ZCSD) has called on government to ensure that it reduces on the fiscal deficit in the 2017 national budget.

ZCSD Executive Secretary Lewis Mwape notes the 2016 national budget had a lot of challenges in its implementation.

Mr. Mwape states that his organization is also expecting to see high investment in the social sector saying this is because Zambia’s economy over the past years has been growing at about 7 percent.

He says what is surprising is the fact that the benefit to the poor people has not been seen despite this economic growth.

Mr. Mwape says the 2017 national budget should also focus on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals which will also help in ending abject poverty.

He says social protection should also be key as the national budget should reflect how it will deal with this sector.