The National Assembly of Zambia has taken a significant step towards enhancing its budget oversight role by training selected staff from various departments on sector budget analysis, annual borrowing plans and gender-responsive budgeting. The workshop held from 19th to 23rd August 2024 at Golden Sonnets Hotel in Kabwe, was organized in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR).
This undertaking forms part of the National Assembly's ongoing efforts to enhance the skills of its staff, to ensure that they are well-prepared to support Members of Parliament in scrutinizing the national budget and heads of expenditure (sector budgets).
Speaking at the official opening of the workshop, Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Roy Ngulube said that the initiative follows the recent updated National Assembly Standing Orders of 2024, which mandates the active involvement of all relevant committees in the scrutiny and approval process for the national budget.
"As we prepare for the 2025 budget estimates, it is important for us to have a common understanding of the new procedures as laid out in the National Assembly Standing Orders, 2024," the Clerk stated.
Mr. Ngulube further stressed that referring budget estimates to oversight Committees will provide a platform for deep engagement between the ministries, provinces and other spending agencies with Parliamentary oversight committees.
“This was not the case under the old system, where such institutions can now directly inform committees of their ideal resource requirements for adequate and effective service delivery,” He said.
Mr. Ngulube also noted that sector budget analysis is crucial in ensuring that resources appropriated to various heads of expenditure are aligned with the national development plans, particularly the Eighth National Development Plan. He expressed his satisfaction that important aspects of gender-responsive budgeting were included in the training, as this is a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and social equity in national resource allocation.
"It is very important that our budgeting processes consider the diverse needs of all segments of society, men, women, children and youth to promote inclusivity,” he added.
UNICEF Zambia Social Policy Specialist for Public Finance, Miselo Bwalya speaking on behalf of UNICEF Representative recognized the National Assembly’s efforts to analyze the budget with a specific focus on individual sectors rather than as whole. He said that this approach is essential for ensuring that every aspect of the budget is thoroughly examined for its potential impact on children and vulnerable groups.
Meanwhile, Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research Interim Executive Director, Mr. Zali Chikuba, said the workshop was important for equipping National Assembly staff with the critical tools needed for effective budget analysis and public debt management. He emphasized that the training would not only enhance the staff's ability to analyze social sector budgets and implement gender-responsive budgeting but also support Parliament's crucial role in national economic management by ensuring a balanced approach to revenue and expenditure.
And National Assembly of Zambia, Principle Clerk, Institute of Parliamentary Studies Mr. Tennieson Nyangu acknowledged the efforts of the National Assembly's leadership and staff in advancing the budgeting process. He said that while the initial implementation of the new system might face challenges, there is a commitment to refining the process over time. Mr Nyangu said the ideal goal is for parliamentary committees to be involved at every stage of the budgeting process, from formulation to execution and audit.
