SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET
By Miles B. Sampa, MP
So yesterday in Parliament we agreed to alter our inhouse rules (Standing Orders) so as to work beyond 7pm to fully debate and complete all matters on the Order Paper (Agenda). This more so to accomodate the rare item on the programme from the Minister of Finance Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane seeking our approval for a Supplemetary budget of K22 billion representing some 12% increment on the existing approved 2022 Budget.
Its unusual to increase the national budget midstream if either more Revenue has been realised or un-avoidable Expenditure has surfaced. The Minister of Finance in most cases said Revenue side is from rolled over funds (un spent from 2021 budget). Very possible as spending out of MOF and other Ministries almost came to a stand still post August 2021 elections.
I personally stood up to support or question the following supplemetary expenditure proposals:
1. Supported the K1,850,163 towards the Office of the Public Protectors as I believe with it we can finally get the vacancy in that very important office field. Its the office designates by the Constitution that ordinary citizens can freely go to complain about any public office holder. The Public Protector is then mandated to freely investigate the complaint. The office has remained vacant since the new constitution in 2016.
1. Questioned the K150, 513, 249 on Mission Abroad Mortgage financing. I was against this collosal allocation as such funds are needed more on the domestic front. Missions abroad should generate own funds (visa, permits, rentals from office buildings Zambia owns) and not siphon from meagre domestic resources. Cosmectic missions that cant generate own funding need to be closed.
2. Questioned the K2,800,000 for the Teachers Service Commision to buy 4 VX vehicles for Lusaka based Commissioners when they can acquire cheaper vehicles.
3. Supported the K2000 additional allocation to the Ministry of Information as I believe the Minister should more resources so as to give us frequent updates on trending topics or matters of public interest.
4. Questioned the K7, 000,000 indicated as supplementart budget for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEC) for 4 luxury vehicles when they can acquire cheaper means of transportation .
Just before mid night about 11:35pm the supplementary budget was approved and we will review its utilization at the end of 2022.
As Legislators we mandated to give check and balances or oversight roles on the Executive side of Government.
Together We Can
MBS27.07.2022