. Yamba
By XAVIER MANCHISHI –
THE Ministry of Finance has released K569.7 million to stir development, create jobs and ultimately reduce poverty.
From the K569.7, the Treasury has given K122.3 million to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Out of this money, K102.3 million is for various facets of the Farmer Input Support Programme and K20 million for crop purchases.
The Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health has received K15 million for the Social Cash Transfer Programme while K61.3 million has been given to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing as Constituency Development Fund.
Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba has said the Social Cash Transfer Programme and the CDF are key accelerators of development and poverty reduction at grass-root level.
“It is important that at all levels of governance, everyone should familiarise themselves with the statutes, regulations and guidelines on management and administration of public funds to ensure that the intended beneficiaries are touched by these resource outlays, in a positive and sustainable manner,” Mr Yamba said.
Ministry of Finance public relations officer Chileshe Kandeta said the Treasury had also released K84.3 million from fuel levy revenue, to the National Road Fund Agency for road maintenance, rehabilitation and construction programmes.
A further K1.8 million has been released for the rural roads programme in Western Province while K15 million has been given to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the land audit and titling programme.
“Once the land audit and titling programme is complete, a full picture of Zambia’s land ownership and usage situation will be obtained. Our citizens will be able to obtain their lad-titles in a transparent manner and use these empowerment instruments to further develop their estates. The sky will be the limit,” Mr Yamba said.
The Treasury has further released operational funds to the ministries of Health, Finance, Home Affairs, the Judiciary and Mines.
In addition, K12 million has been released for the rural electrification programme, K2.5 million for the Copperbelt Environmental Programme, K13 million for payment of outstanding bills, and K34 million for external debt service.
To ensure that the handling of financial and other public resources is maintained in a robust state, the Treasury has released K9 million for programmes targeted at restructuring the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA).
Another K4 million has been released for operations of the Office of the Auditor General and another allocation released for an audit verification exercise at the Public Service Pensions Fund.
Mr Yamba appealed for timely implementation of development programmes which have received funding not only to maintain the positive growth trajectory of the national development agenda.
“The Treasury wishes to see that the funds given to ministries provinces and other Government spending agencies continue to produce results that are beneficial to the people of Zambia and reassuring to the regional and international community,” Mr Yamba said.
