Minister of Finance Alexander
Chikwanda has announced that a total of K20 billion has been provided for the
constitution making process in the 2013 national budget.
And over K2 trillion has been
allocated towards the servicing of domestic and external debt in the 2013
national budget.
The Minister said that for
general public services, a provision of K8.4 trillion or 26.2 percent of the
budget has been made and that out of the amount a total of K2.4 trillion will
go towards the servicing of domestic and external debt.
He also announced a 93.9 percent
increment towards the allocation of council grants from a total of K257.1
billion in 2012 to K498.6 billion in 2013.
Mr. Chikwanda said that the move
is intended to fiscally empower the local government ahead of sector devolution
while adding that grants to councils have been restructured and increased.
The Minister said that an
increased proportion of the grants to councils has been allocated to the
restructuring grant to assist councils dismantle their debt and outstanding
statutory and contractual obligations.
Meanwhile Mr. Chikwanda has said
that a further K204 billion has been set aside to commence the construction of
infrastructure for other government departments in the newly created districts
and provincial capitals.
In public order and safety, the
Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) have
received a rise in allocation amounting to 11.2 percent translating into a
total of K100 billion.
He said government will continue
to strengthen the Zambia Police Service by recruiting and modernising their
operations and that a total of K30 billion has been allocated for the
modernisation of the service.
“I have also made sufficient
provisions for the net recruitment of 800 police officers,” he said.
The Minister also disclosed that
the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) will no longer undertake
procurement on behalf of procuring entities but will be required to approve the
use of direct bidding or single sourcing.
He said that the ZPPA‘s role will
now be that of overseeing and regulating public procurement.
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