Wed, 23 Nov 2016 11:26:46 +0000
THE 2017 National Budget is a good document if the Government sticks to it to so that its benefits will trickle down to the majority citizens, says Democratic Alliance (DA) president Maxwell Mwamba.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Mwamba said that he was impressed with how funds had been allocated to various sectors of the economy such as to the agriculture and the proposed K2.7 billion set aside for social protection to help the majority poor.
He said that although the Budget had focused on austerity measures which he attributed to the high cost of living, he expressed confidence that it was indeed a recovery Budget and its benefits would trickle down to ordinary citizens. “The 2017 Budget is a good document. I have looked at the figures and they are good and I believe as long as the Patriotic Front (PF) government sticks to the tabulated plans and avoid a Budget overrun, its benefits will trickle down to the majority citizens.
‘‘If they stick to the Budget plan in terms of expenditure, it’s a very good recovery Budget. But you see, you can make a plan but if you don’t follow through, then that good initiative can fail…but if they can follow the agreed expenditure and avoid a Budget overrun, it’s a good Budget and its benefits will trickle down to the common Zambians,” Mr Mwamba said.
Mr Mwamba, who is former mayor of Luanshya, commended the Finance Minister Felix Mutati for trying as much as possible to balance various sectors in the economy and has urged citizens and all stakeholders to help the minister achieve his good plans in the Budget by playing an active economic role.
