By SIMON MUNTEMBA
THE biggest expectation is that of a conflict sensitive budget centred on uplifting the livelihoods of all the local people where empowerment is concerned and thereby addressing structural violence, says SACCORD executive director, Boniface Cheembe.
Mr Cheembe also said that SACCORD equally expects to see a budget that would promote peaceful political debate and active citizenship in the promotion of accountable and good governance.
He told the Daily Nation in a statement that as the Minister of Finance and National Planning makes his budget presentation today, there are a lot of expectations on the part of stakeholders, with ordinary Zambians expecting a budget centred on uplifting their livelihoods.
Mr Cheembe said SACCPORD further expected that the budget would free up a lot of resources in the economy so that people have access to finances critical in maintaining a healthy economy and communities.
Mr Cheembe said Zambians were in urgent need of a conflict sensitive budget that would attend to their needs and rights for the fulfilment of their ambitions.
“For example, issues of free education and student meal allowances need to start being addressed and the starting point is the 2022 budget,” he said.
He said SACCORD supports the new administration policy pronouncement to enhance the decentralization process of the country by devolving power from the central government to the local government.
Mr Cheembe however said the policy pronouncement could only be meaningfully accomplished if it was accompanied by adequate resources to both the decentralization secretariat and other local government structures around the country.
He said his organisation was expecting the Minister of Finance to prioritize the financing of decentralization in the 2022 budget as a way of enhancing better service delivery and
He also stated that SACCORD believed that the Public Order Act (POA) having been a source of disharmony, disunity, discontent, and conflict for a long time deserved adequate financial resources to facilitate for its reform through a thorough public engagement and consultative process.
“We expect the Minister of Finance to provide for adequate financial support towards the reform of the POA so that it becomes a source of harmony, unity, and peace in the country,” he said
He also said the Minister of Finance should provide adequate resources towards constitutional reform in the country that would have the net effect of promoting constitutional stability in the nation.
Mr Cheembe warned that failure to finalize shortcomings in the constitution would lead to constitutional instability and thereby being a source of conflict
He further said that it was expected that the budgetary allocation towards the agriculture sector was increased to maximise revenue generating stream.
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