State to push for 2017 Statistics Bill
GOVERNMENT has said it will expedite the finalisation of the 2017 Statistics Bill for consideration by Parliament to ensure that Zambia has accurate data which is critical to national planning and development.
According to Minister of National Development and Planning, Lucky Mulusa, the expedition of the Bill followed Cabinet’s approval in principle this year.
“Following Cabinet’s approval in principle the 2017 Statistics Bill early this year, the Ministry of Nn national development planning will expedite the finalisation of the Bill for consideration by Parliament,” he said.
Mr. Mulusa was speaking in a speech readthe ministry’s permanent secretary, Auxilia Ponga, at the African Statistics day dinner in Lusaka which was celebrated under the theme “Better Lives with Better Economic Statistics.”
He said availability and appropriate use of economic statistics could translate into better lives for people through providing evidence as a basis for policy and decision making.
Mr. Mulusa explained that statistical information played a significant role in the overall development process Government strived to meet the challenging of improving the lives of the people.
He emphasised that economic statistics were important in monitoring progress towards meeting economic targets such as those outline in the Seventh National Development Policy (7NDP) which included among others, diversifying and making economic growth inclusive.
“We need a systematic approach that starts by understanding the functioning of the national economy to achieve this, robust economic statistics are required. The more complete statistics are, the more significant and useful they become for development purposes,” Mr. Mulusa said.
Speaking at the same function CSO director, John Kalumbi, said the aim of the celebrations was to create awareness the importance of numbers among date users.
Mr. Kalumbi also emphasised statistics were important in social and economic growth a country.
“Sustainable development is impossible without updated statistics,” Mr. Kalumbi said.