Govt. releases revised SNDP

Government has released the revised Sixth National Development Plan (R-SNDP) following its approval and printing by cabinet.

And Ministry of Finance will soon commence dissemination and outreach programmes at national, provincial and district levels to sensitize various stakeholders and members of the public on the connection between the Patriotic Front (PF) Manifesto, the R-SNDP and the 2015 national budget which will be presented to parliament next week.

The newly released document, which has been signed by President Michael Sata, reaffirms government’s commitment to making economic growth beneficial to all and provides the framework for investment in the medium term in order to accelerate socio-economic development.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba.

The plan also provides a comprehensive medium term strategy for an all-inclusive and sustainable development agenda and addresses weaknesses and challenges faced during the implementation of the previous national development plans against a backdrop of good economic performance in 2011 and 2012 with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 6.8 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively, against the targeted growth rates of 6.4 percent and 7.0 percent.

The revised Sixth National Development Plan 2013-2016 is the revision of the Sixth National Development Plan 2011-2015 which takes on board the priorities of the incumbent regime and aims at achieving the objectives set out in the vision 2030 of turning Zambia into a prosperous middle-income country by 2030.

“The R-SNDP is primarily an investment plan which contains quantifiable programmes to inform sector planning and budgeting processes. These programmes are expected to respond to the strategic focus of the plan and its theme of “people centered economic growth and development”. The programmes are well elaborated in the implementation plan of the R-SNDP,” reads the statement in part.

The President observed in his statement that delivering equitable development requires concerted efforts and commitment from all stakeholders.

He has since urged all Zambians from different walks of life to be fully committed and participate in the implementation of the plan at an accelerated rate.

Mr. Sata has also called on the national development coordinating committee, sector advisory groups, provincial development coordinating committees, district development coordinating committees, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations; faith based organisations and the ordinary Zambians to be pillars in the implementation and monitoring of progress in their respective sectors.

The President noted that cooperating partners have always been supportive of the development agenda of the country saying government will continue to appreciate their valuable contributions.