Zambian President Michael Sata has urged Members of Parliament to support the nation’s 2014 Budget in order for the government to continue implementing progressive programmes to secure a better life for all.
Reacting to the 2014 budget presented by Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda to parliament on Friday, President Sata on Saturday advised parliamentarians to engage their constituencies and simplify the budget in order to insulate members of the general public from deliberate distortions and deceptive interpretations by certain cynical stakeholders.
He said that the government was determined to radically reduce the levels of poverty by combining the resources of the public and private sectors to build an economy that benefits all.
“While expanding our economic base, the government will ensure that the country’s wealth, business opportunities, skills training and other opportunities are more equitably shared by all our people,” President Sata said in a statement.
“We shall intensify efforts to create employment through new jobs, skills development, assistance to small businesses, opportunities for self employment and sustainable community livelihoods,” he added.
Finance Minister Chikwanda on Friday unveiled a K42.68 billion budget for next year from which K29.54 would be financed through domestic revenues as well as grants of K2.63 billion from key donors while the balance of K10.51 billion was expected to be financed through foreign and domestic borrowing. (US$1=K525)
