EU restores budget support to Zambia

By Sharon Siame

The European Union -EU- has restored budget support to Zambia, with a first disbursement of K600-million.

The restoration of the EU budget support comes after 10 years of withdrawing support to Zambia in 2012.

EU Ambassador to Zambia, KAROLINA STASIAK says that with the appointment of a new cabinet in 2021, the Union has witnessed a renewed commitment to ambitious reforms towards strengthening governance and guiding Zambia back onto economic recovery.

Speaking during the ceremony to resume budget support in Lusaka today, Ms. STASIAK said the budget support focuses on Education, Health – Pharmaceutical and public procurement.

She noted that despite Zambia facing a series of challenges over the past few years, the Government has remained steadfast in its efforts to strengthen governance, restore macroeconomic stability and promote inclusive growth.

And Finance Minister SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE expressed gratitude for the resumption of the EU budget support saying that the conditions that led to the withdrawal do not exist anymore.

Dr. MUSOKOTWANE said that Government remains steadfast to ensuring that public funds are utilized for their intended purposes.

He said the resumption of the budget support will help overcome some challenges that the country is facing.