European Union financed Support to the National Assembly Project trains Members of the Budget Committee on Subsidies, Fiscal Decentralisation and the Budget Process

Chairperson of the Budget Committee Hon. Mwalimu Simfukwe says major strides have been made to enhance the role of Parliament in the Budget Process through the various reforms taking place in the National Assembly.

He said this when he officially opened the Capacity Enhancement Training Workshop for Members of the Budget Committee that was held at Intercontinental Hotel, in Lusaka, from 14th to 15th January, 2017.

Hon. Simfukwe who is also Member of Parliament for Mbala Parliamentary Constituency called on the Members to take the training seriously as it would equip them with knowledge that is key in providing effective oversight tools for collation and analysis of evidence on the forthcoming study about subsidies and fiscal decentralisation and the budget.

The Hon. Chairperson disclosed that the training was meant to assist the Members of the Budget Committee unlock some of the technical aspects of the topics to be considered in its annual programme of work and added that the amended Republican Constitution had created more opportunities for Parliament to proactively get involved in the budget process.

He indicated that the Committee on Estimates is now called the Budget Committee, in line with the new National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders which were recently adopted by the House.

The European Union financed Support to the National Assembly of Zambia Project organised the Capacity Enhancement Workshop for Members of the Budget Committee on the following topics:

1.    Budgetary effects of agricultural subsidies.

2.    Budgetary effects of fuel and electricity subsidies.

3.    Fiscal decentralisation and the budget Process.

The Committee will be studying the budgetary impact of some of the selected subsidies being provided by the government. The findings will contribute to the on-going conversations on the removal of these subsidies.

The overall objective of the Support to the National Assembly Project is to enhance economic governance in Zambia through improved public financial management, strengthened accountability processes and increased management for results.