Resources management under scrutiny
By CHITE MTONGA AND MUKOSELA KASALWE CITIZENS active participation in the management of resources is key in the effective delivery of improved social services says Ministry of National Development and planning permanent secretary Chola Chabala.
Speaking at the official opening of the social accountability symposium in Lusaka Mr. Chabala said that social accountability through the promotion of citizen participation in the management of national resources was fundamental in achieving the ambitious goals in the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP).
He said that social accountability could enable increased and enhanced citizen participation in many of the strategic areas described in the SNDP.
Mr Chabala said that social accountability approaches speak directly to enhancing the relationship between those who manage and provide public services and the Zambian citizens accessing services.
He said that social accountability could play a critical role in decentralization which was a key reform in the SNDP.
“Social accountability can play a very critical role in fiscal decentralization, with citizen participation harnessed through social accountability such as budget tracking devolved resources are guaranteed to reach local services where they are needed most,” Mr Chabala said.
And United States embassy Charge D Affaires Christopher Kraft said that the national social accountability symposium was about involving the average citizen in transparency and development.