The Treasury in the December, 2018 released a total of K4.3 billion for capital programmes, agriculture development, public welfare, debt service, and general public service delivery operations in various Ministries Provinces and Other Controlling Bodies.
Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe says of the K4.3 billion total funding, K1.5 billion was allocated to service both domestic and external debt, K437 million was spent on financing grant-aided-operations, and a further K1.1 billion went to various Government programmes, projects and public service delivery.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe adds that K1.3 billion was funded for the wage bill for various public service workers including teaching, medical and security personnel.

She says in December 2018, the Government released K399.6 million for numerous capital projects across the country of which K269.2 million went towards on-going works and completion of road projects and K10.5 million was allocated to the Rural Electrification Programme.
The Finance Minister states that in line with the Government’s vision not to leave anyone behind in national building, a further K10 million went towards the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
“The Ministry of Finance also released K69.4 million to support the operations of Public Universities. A further K15 million was released to finance the award of student loans and scholarships. A sum of K116.7 million went towards the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). These funds were targeted at not only the speedy implementation of the e-voucher and the direct redeeming programmes but also to facilitate the dismantling of outstanding FISP obligations. The total amount released towards the FISP Programme from January 2018 to December 2018, therefore, stood at K1.86 billion,” she said.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe further states that the Food Reserve Agency in December 2018 received K120 million for procurement of maize and other grains in order to help meet the strategic reserve requirements and liquidate some outstanding bills.
She further adds that the Treasury also released K244.5 million to support some activities and operations of various institutions, of which amount, K153 million went towards the procurement of drugs and medical supplies in public health institutions.
“To continue reducing the country’s indebtedness and to ensure fiscal sustainability as charted in the Economic Stabilisation and Growth Programme [ESGP] and the Medium Term Debt Strategy [MTDS], the Government released a sum of K1.5 billion in December 2018. These funds went towards both domestic and external debt obligations. A further K81.4 million was released to liquidate outstanding liabilities related to the consumption of goods and services by various Ministries, Provinces and Other Controlling Bodies,” said Mrs. Mwanakatwe.
The minister says the Zambia Revenue Authority received K66.2 million while K89.9 million was released as support for operations of local authorities across the country through the Local Government Equalisation Fund (LGEF).
“In this regard, the Government remains committed to strengthening the revenue base and improving collection efficiencies of local authorities. In 2019, there will be a review of relevant revenue enhancement legislation such as the Rating Act to allow for mass valuation of properties. Other public entities and quasi-governmental institutions received K71.1 million from the Treasury for their operations,” she said.

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