By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –
Government has commissioned an impact assessment study on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) implementation in Zambia.
The purpose of the study is to document, analyse and assess the relevance and effectiveness of the EITI implementation in Zambia.
Zambia EITI Council (ZEC) coordinator Siforiano Banda said the Government was conducting an impact assessment study on the EITI implementation which would be ready by the end of this month.
Mr Banda said the Government, with the support of cooperating partners, had been implementing the EITI in Zambia for the last six years.
Zambia became an EITI candidate country in May 2009 and has to date published six EITI reports, covering 2008-2013.
The 2014 report is expected to be released today.
In an interview in Lusaka, Mr Banda said the study focuses on whether Zambia was able to achieve the objective of the EITI of promoting transparency and accountability.
The EITI’s objectives are to strengthen transparency of natural resource revenues recognising that this can reduce corruption.
The revenue from extractive industries can transform economies, reduce poverty, and raise the living standards of entire populations in resource-rich countries.
He said the evaluation combines an assessment of the EITI results at country and global levels, and whether EITI’s governance and support structures are fit for that purpose.
