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Civil Society for Poverty Reduction, CSPR
notes with happiness the comments attributed to the
Secretary to Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja on ZNBC news on
18 July 2008 when speaking to senior government
officials on the APRM, the Africa Peer Review Mechanism.
In his Speech Dr. Kanganja pointed out the need for
government officials to be giving information to the
public on development issues related to political and
economic governance.
CSPR has long been involved in the
monitoring of government’s poverty programmes and
budgets since the formulation of the Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper (PRSP) and now is doing the same with the
Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP). During the
implementation of such monitoring exercises CSPR members
have faced difficulties at different levels in
collecting information, particularly at the provincial
levels. CSPR takes this opportunity to commend the
Ministry if Finance and National Planning who have been
very supportive in enabling CSPR to play its watchdog
role by providing information. Commendations are also
due to the Ministries of Health, Education and Community
Development at the Headquarters level.
CSPR urges government officials to heed
Dr Kanganja’s words by acting in the spirit of
transparency and accountability that underlie good
governance.
In addition CSPR takes note of the
current discussion in the Public Finance Committee of
the NCC and cautions committee members to put in place
constitutional measures that would strengthen fiscal
discipline and controls. CSPR wishes to emphasise on the
following issues in public financial management
provisions of the Constitution. The key principles to be
upheld are ones that would set in place an Open,
Transparent, Accountable and Participatory Financial
Management system. Some of the following are key tenets:
1.
Enhancing reporting of the Executive to
Parliament by providing quarterly reports on
expenditure.
2.
Strengthening and shortening timeframes
for provision of reports such as the Financial and Audit
Reports.
3.
Strengthen the role of Auditor General’s
Office.
4.
Strengthen the oversight role of Public
Accounts Committee and Parliament in General.
5.
Change the time of presentation of the
budget to 3 months before the financial year, to enable
a 12 month year for implementation the budget.
6.
Protect within the constitution
expenditures for poverty reduction and limiting.
7.
Enhancing people’s participation in the
different stages of the budget.
CSPR continues to call for government to
be continually committed to the elimination of rural
poverty which is at high levels, programmes to tackle
infrastructure, market access and productivity for rural
producers must be funded well and implemented
effectively for Zambia to end the disparity that now
characterises its population.
Mrs.
Mulima Kufekisa Akapelwa,
Executive Director
19th July, 2008 |
