FORMER MINISTER EXPLAIN POSSIBILITIES OF A POSSIBLE DELAYED 2012 NATIONAL BUDGET

Former Finance and National Planning Ministers Ng’andu Magande and Situmbeko Musokotwane have said the Republican constitution provides for the postponement of the budget presentation to the National Assembly in an election year to allow for the new government to draft the financial plan in accordance with its priorities.

Mr Magande said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Act No 20 of 2009 amended Article 117 of the constitution provided for an extension in an election year.

According to the constitution, the Ministry of Finance shall subject to clause 2 cause to be prepared and laid before the National Assembly not less than the second Friday of October before the commencement of the next financial year estimates of revenue and expenditure of the government for the financial year.

Immediate past minister of Finance and National planning Dr Musokotwane said it was envisaged that in an election year it would be difficult to meet the Constitution requirements of the second Friday of October.

He said the minister of finance in a new government has within 90 days to present the budget from the date of the swearing in of the new President.

Dr Musokotwane has explained that the constitution already provides for delayed presentation of the budget in an election year adding that it is not a proposal required but mere
implementation of what the constitution already says.

“It is obvious that the new government would not have enough time to present the budget,” he said.

Business consultant and newly appointed Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Bob Sichinga had proposed that the new government should be given more time to prepare the budget.

According to the constitution the budget is supposed to be presented on the second Friday of October.