Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) Western Province Chairperson, Prince Mayamba has called on Senanga residents to make recommendations on the 2025 National Budget.
Mr Mayamba says the organisation is meeting with various stakeholders such as civil society, church, business community and members of the public to discuss and analyse the 2025 budget which was presented to Parliament by Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane last month.
He said this at a meeting held at the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) in Senanga District where they were providing feedback on the 2025 budget.
“This feedback shall be incorporated into a template provided by the Ministry of Finance so that our input as Senanga District and Western Province can be factored into the national budget before it is presented for Parliament approval,” he said.
Mr Mayamba commended the people of Senanga for their input and recommendations regarding changes that are supposed to be made within the stipulated time frame.
And Non-Governmental Gender Organisation’s Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Senanga District Focal Point Person, Mubita Kapinda pointed out that analysing the budget as a group helps people to come up with concrete recommendations as they come from people with different experiences.
Ms Kapinda said issues of budget analysis affects everyone, hence the need for all stakeholders to put in their input.
She said many programmes are initiated and implemented by the government, but it is high time stakeholders get involved for the programmes to bear fruitful outcomes.
“Like the CDF, the programme is good and requires all of us to see the gaps and fill them so that we have good infrastructure that can stand the test of time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senanga Council Social Economical Planner, Thokozile Banda has called on the beneficiaries of the Cash for Work Programme to take advantage of the opportunity
to improve their wellbeing.
“These funds are short-term empowerment meant to improve your lives, therefore, be grateful that you are on the programme, as there are so many people that would love to be on it,” she said.
Ms Banda said the government is doing so much to help its citizens to mitigate the impact of the drought.
She added that more programmes might come forth as people analyse and give recommendations on the 2025 national budget.
Notulu Notulu, a youth from the YWCA Senanga office, said the meeting has helped him to understand the budget process.
Mr Notulu said all citizens need to know how public funds are allocated and spent.
“Sometimes we are taken for granted when seeking public services because we do not know our entitlements, but this has enlightened us that we have the right to know allocations for any public institution,” he said.
Mr Notulu urged his fellow youths to develop a keen interest in matters of national development, such as budget analysis.
