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The government has emphasized the importance of citizen participation in the formulation of policies to strengthen Zambia’s decentralized system of governance and foster national development.
Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Dr. Lewis Mwape, made this call during a Consultative Meeting on the review of the 2014 National Planning and Budgeting Policy in Chipata on Tuesday.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, he highlighted that bottom-up planning was crucial for achieving decentralization and ensured that the development process reflected the needs of all citizens.
Mwape stressed the need for a shared commitment to strengthening the National Planning and Budgeting Framework.
He also underscored the significance of the Local Government Act No. 1 of 2019, which created platforms for citizen participation, when revising the Planning and Budgeting Policy.
“Emphasis should be placed on citizen involvement in the budget formulation process to ensure that the voices of the people are heard on issues that directly affect them,” Mwape said.
“Without citizen participation, development remains a pipe dream,” he added.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary emphasized that well-outlined legislation, which prioritizes citizen participation, was vital for driving national development.
He added that such participation was essential for identifying community challenges and crafting solutions that are people-driven.
“I strongly urge you to critically analyze the economic, environmental, political, and social landscape so that the revised policy responds to the current, emerging, and future development needs of the country,” Mwape advised.
He stated that the goal of the review process was to create a revised policy that was responsive to the needs of the country and aligned with the national vision for inclusive economic growth and development.
The meeting, organized by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, was attended by departmental heads from various ministries and representatives from districts across Eastern Province.
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