Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Government has been called upon to ensure that it commits to fiscal consolidation in the 2019 national budget.
Economist Chrispin Mphuka says this is especially that the Country has been off target in fiscal consolidation for the most part of the 2018 financial year.
Mr. Mphuka states that his hope is that in 2019 there will be proper commitment and measures put in place to ensure that fiscal consolidation is achieved.
In an interview by telephone Dr. Mphuka, who is also former Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) president thinks that fiscal consolidation has now become critical for the Zambian economy.
Dr. Mphuka has warned that delayed action on the part of government to commit to fiscal consolidation will mean higher cost to the Country.
He says government therefore really needs to make the required adjustments if the Zambian economy is going to return to macroeconomic stability.
And Dr. Mphuka says he is keen to see how much, in the 2019 national budget, will go to social services and to real sectors.
He is of the view that much as debt servicing will gobble a substantial amount of the budget, it is important that sectors such as health and education are protected.