Government spends K14.9 billion in May, debt servicing gulps K8.2 billion 

Government says it has spent a total of K14.9 billion on developmental programmes, including debt servicing in the month of May, 2023.

Out of the total expenditure, K688.2 million went towards implementation of various developmental programmes and general operations.

Other expenditures in the month under review included K314.9 million for road infrastructure, a total of K8.2 billion for debt service and other liabilities.

The treasury used K3.7 billion for the public service wage bill, and K1.9 billion for transfers, subsidies and social benefits.

In a statement on Friday, Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokwane, said from the K1.9 billion under the transfers and subsidies category, K731.9 million went to Social Cash Transfer programme.

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Musokotwane said operations of hospitals and other Government Grant Aided Institutions was K266.8 million, Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) financing gap and grant was K185.6 million.

Operations of public universities got K115.1 million; and  Local Government Equalization Fund  K111.6 million respectively.

“In the same month, we released K688.2 million to facilitate effective public service delivery under various public institutions, notable among which were K317.3 million for general operations of Ministries, Provinces and other Agencies (MPA’s) and about K51 million for TAZAMA workers’ salaries,” he said.

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Under the capital expenditure category, the treasury  released K314.9 million, which funds went towards road infrastructure programmes.

“In the month under review, we also spent K3.7 billion on costs relating to the Public Service Wage Bill (Personal Emoluments) for various public service workers.  In line with our commitment to reduce indebtedness, K7 billion was released in the same month for payment of both domestic debt and external debt,” Musokotwane said.

In addition, he said about K1.2 billion went to dismantling of arrears owed to suppliers of goods and services.

Musokotwane also  noted that some areas of the country were lagging in the absorption of Constituency Development Fund (CDF), thereby leading to delays in the empowerment of citizens and interruptions in the implementation of constituency level developmental programmes.

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