Parliament has approved the revised 2024/2025 budget, increasing the total allocation from 5.99 trillion kwacha to 6.04 trillion kwacha.
Speaking during budget presentation on Monday, Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda, the budget increase is a response to rising prices of goods and services in the country.
“The total allocation has increased by 50 billion kwacha to 6.04 trillion kwacha. State residences will receive an additional 46 billion kwacha for maintenance works. The opposition has expressed concerns over the allocation of resources, questioning the prioritization of state residences over other pressing departments like the roads fund administration,” he said.
The opposition has criticized the revised budget, arguing that the allocation of resources is misplaced. They contend that the increase in funding for state residences is unjustified, particularly when compared to the reduced allocation for critical departments like the roads fund administration.
In response to the criticism, Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda explained that the increase in the budget is necessary to address the rising costs of goods and services in the country.
He also justified the allocation of resources towards state residences, citing the need for maintenance works to ensure the upkeep of these facilities.
