NGOCC’s Engwase Banda Mwale congratulates Margaret Mh’ango Mwanakatwe 

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By Derrick Sinjela

Non-Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Executive Director Executive Director Engwase B. Mwale has congratulated Patriotic Front (PF) Lusaka Central Member of Parliament (MP) Margaret Mh’ango Mwanakatwe on her appoint as Zambia’s Second Female Finance Minister.

Stepping into shoes previously worn by former First Female Minister of Finance, Ms. Edith Zewelani Nawakwi, currently serving as Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President, Ms. Mwale said NGOCC saw Ms. Ms. Mwanakatwe’s appointment as providing an opportunity for women to showcase their unique leadership skills capable of propelling Zambia to greater heights.

In a Media Statement circulated by NGOCC Advocacy Officer Witney Mulobela, Ms. Mwale  recognized the challenging role that comes with this key portfolio in government,  especially Zambia’s economic fundamentals require magnanimity and foresight.

“This is also a time when the country’s cost of living remains too high and way above the reach of most households. It is our hope that Ms. Mwanakatwe will champion policies that will aim at mitigating this high cost of living and consequently reduce poverty levels which have continued to carry the female face in Zambia. We have no doubt in former Commence Trade and Industry Minister Mwanakatwe’s capacity to rise to the occasion and address the many economic challenges that beset us,” Ms. Mwale spoke barely a day after President Edgar Chagwa Lungu made changes to cabinet on Valentines Day-Wednesday 14th February 2018.

Ms. Mwale says NGOCC is mindful of Zambia’s struggle with unsustainable external debt stock which stands at US$7.9 billion, according to the Ministry of Finance information and expected  Ms. Mwanakatwe to facilitate the long awaited implementation of the Debt Management Strategy  to free more resources towards improving social service delivery.

“As the focal point of the women’s movement, NGOCC remains deeply

concerned with the high levels of public resource mismanagement as evidenced by the revelations in the Annual Auditor General’s Reports. We hope therefore that the new Finance Minister will continue with the Public Finance Management Reforms in order to stop the leakages of public resources,” regretted Ms. Mwale.

Ms. Mwale remained hopeful that Ms. Mwanakatwe would in due course presenting the new Public Finance Management Bill in Parliament as a priority intervention towards safeguarding public funds, when The second session of the 12th National Assembly, which adjourned sine die on Wednesday 13th December 2017, will resume sitting on Tuesday 20 February 2018.

“It is our hope that the Bill will provide stringent punitive measures against civil servants that abuse and blatantly steal public resources which would go a long way in addressing the drug shortages in hospitals, provision of quality education, especially for the girl child in rural areas who is ending up in early and child marriages,” Ms Mwale said as Ms. Mwanakatwe took over from Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) leader, Felix Chipota Mutati, who became Works and Supply Minister.

Roy Ngulube from the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mrs. Cecelia Mbewe said sittings of the legislature will resume chaired by Speaker of the national Assembly, State Counsel Dr. Patrick Matibini.

The last sitting of the National Assembly adjourned sine die, Members of Parliament (MP) unanimously approved the K71.6 billion 2018 national budget presented before it by then Minister of Finance Felix Chipota Mutati.

Two new Members of Parliament (MP’s); Patriotic Front (PF) Kwacha MP Joe Malanji and Nkana MP Alexander Chiteme will join the Front Bench led by Vice President Ms. Inonge Mutukwa-Wina following their respective appointments as Foreign Affairs Minister and Minister for National Development Planning.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, who resigned from his ministerial position early this year, will join the ruling PF backbench as Bahati Member of Parliament (MP) in Luapula Province with Copperbelt Province Roan Member of Parliament (MP) Chishimba Kambwili, currently serving as National Democratic Congress (NDC) Consultant.

PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri, nominated to Parliament by President Lungu in accordance with Article 69 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia is returning to Manda Hill, while former nominated MP and National Development Planning Minister Lucky Mulusa s sacked by President Lungu, ostensibly for disparaging Government’s purchase of 42 million fire tenders, which cost Zambia US$42 million.