.Yamba

By JAMES KUNDA –

GOVERNMENT has dispelled indications by some local and foreign economic analysts portraying the country’s tax and budgeting policies as weak.
Meanwhile, Government says the medium term will be anchored on fiscal consolidation, policy consistency and economic stability to provide an environment for investment, job creation and wealth creation.
Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba said the Government was concerned with the touting of mis-information on tax and budget matters in Zambia including from some analysts representing foreign and international organisations.
He said this in a statement issued yesterday by Ministry of Finance public relations officer Chileshe Kandeta.
“The current budget consultation process avails the public an opportunity to engage with interest groups and the government to ensure that there is harmony in our understanding of what needs to be done to better the lives of the citizens of this country,” Mr Yamba said.
Mr Yamba advised interest groups to hold public forums at which their unabridged budget proposals should be availed to citizens and the media before being forwarded to the Ministry.
This, he said, would render credibility to the analysis as was the trend whenever Government presents the Budget for debate in Parliament.
In a related matter, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said the medium term would be anchored on fiscal consolidation with continuity of sound economic policies in 2016.
Mr Chikwanda said to ensure transparency in the budget formulation process; stakeholders should publish their proposals in advertorial format so that the public is accorded the benefit of understanding.
“In this regard, the public is encouraged to submit proposals and ideas not only on tax and non-tax policies, but also on public expenditure policies whose target should be to facilitate achievement of the country’s economic and poverty reduction goals,” he said.
The proposals on the 2016 National Budget would form the basis for some of the fiscal policies and the 2016 to 2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework.