Media Network for Child’s Rights(MNCR) Executive Director Henry Kabwe expects young people’s engagement in the allocation of the 2018 National Budget.
Speaking in an interview, Kabwe said it is high time a strategic approach that influence governments’ budget choices was attained by achieving clear and specific outcomes.
He said engaging the public, especially children will help government make right decisions that leads to healthier people and reducing poverty.
Kabwe said clear and effective advocacy will build government in attaining smaller concrete steps, such as increased budget allocations and more solid oversight of how funds are spent.
Kabwe said budget advocacy ensures that only specific policy objectives, such as more money for schools and anti-poverty initiatives are attained, adding that it also strengthen public finance processes, mechanisms, and institutions.
“When ordinary Zambians contribute in decision making, they stipulate what is necessary for the well-being of the country,” he said.
The former Monitor Newspaper Editor was however, quick to mention that meeting people’s needs is not only about allocating the required funds, but that it is about assuring that those funds are spent in an effective and accountable manner.
He said for the budget to be successful in 2018, their is need for the Zambian government to create space for youths to express their opinions and listen to them, enhance peace-building knowledge and skills of young people and build trust in both the youth and government.
Kabwe said their is need for the budget interpretation to be accommodative to children including language and accessibility.
He urged government to have a holistic way of engaging people before any budget is presented.