Budget blends with 7NDP , says JCTR

THE 2018 national budget is well aligned to the seventh National Development Plan, and seems to have sustained the drive of promoting human development, on the pillar of enhancing human development, Jesuits Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) media and information officer Tendai Posiana has said.

Ms Posiana noted that poverty and vulnerability reduction pillar has received fair attention from the 2018 budget, but much more need to be done to finance it.

Ms Posiana said JCTR expressed concerns that over 50 percent of the allocation goes to administrative expenses, noting that the pattern which seems to have continued in 2018 will hamper the realisation of the aspirations of 2018 budget in the area of human development.

She noted that the budget was presented at a time when according to the 2015 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey (LCMS), Zambia’s national poverty levels is at 54.4 percent and rural poverty at 76 percent.

"The poverty connotation is associated with citizens lacking access to essentials required for a dignified standard of living such as health, education and a decent standard of living.

The cost of living has consistently been increasing in the last two years making it difficult for many households to access basic needs.

She said JCTR was alarmed at the proposed increased domestic borrowing of almost three times the 2017 level.