Govt is opposed to Parley approving debt contraction- Siliya

Government says it is opposed to the constitutional requirement that gives Parliament authority to approve contraction of all public debt.

Chief government spokesperson Dora Siliya says this constitutional requirement is one of the lacunas in Republican Constitution that needs to be rectified.

Ms. Siliya says allowing Parliament to be approving the acquisition of loans and debt by government only dilutes the separation of powers.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka Ms. Siliya wondered how Parliament, which is supposed to play an oversight role on government, should take up the functions of the Executive.

And Ms. Siliya has refuted media reports  suggesting that the Department for International Development (DFID) has withdrawn its financial assistance to Zambia’s social cash Transfer programme.

Ms. Siliya states that government has not received any such communication from the DFID.

She says government still enjoys good working relations with partner organizations such as the DFID.