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| Zambia's PRSP implementation and its priorities |
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3. Implementation of the PRSP
The process of implementing the PRSP draws the keenest interest from civil society. There are a number of fundamental issues, however, that we wish to emphasise right from the start.
Firstly, we wish to urge government to put in place an effective and proper co-ordination framework for the implementation of PRSP activities. There are a number of ongoing government activities and programmes which should all be drawn into the framework of implementation of the PRSP. This is particularly important given the rather weak poverty reduction targets in the PRSP.
Secondly, it is imperative that government develops facilitative policies that will ensure effective implementation of the PRSP. This will also provide the clarity needed on various positions of government which, according to our recent experience, have shown a certain level of unpredictability. For instance, the PRSP is firmly calling for expunging the office of the District Administrator and transfer the functions of this office to the local authorities. Government in the last few months, however, has gone off on a different tangent and instead called for a new and open debate on whether this office should be abolished or retained. The excuse that current office holders are on contract terms was used to argue for a hold on reviewing this office until the expiry of these contracts. However, in the last few weeks, government has gone ahead to appoint new District Administrators. Implementing the PRSP embraces a broadening of the system of governance, ensuring that everyone, and particularly the poor people themselves, become active participants in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Thirdly, funding of the PRSP, including allocation and effective utilization of these funds, is of utmost importance. Government, Non-Governmental Organisations, the business community, trade unions, the ordinary Zambians etc have collaborated, discussed and agreed on a general framework for poverty reduction. While, from a civil society point of view, the resulting compromise may not be perfect, we are convinced that the PRSP presents a unique opportunity to seriously deal with poverty. For this to materialize, we urge Development partners to ensure that the PRSP is fully funded and properly implemented. In order to effectively contribute to saving people’s lives and restoring dignity, we call for timely funding to areas in the PRSP that will sustainably address poverty for the common person, such as Education, Health, HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation, Agriculture etc. We would like to caution against funding that will too easily be absorbed in peripheral activities like institutional strengthening and capacity building. Indeed, efficient and strong institutions are needed, but just by themselves, are meaningless if 80% of the people continue to live in poverty. The people of Zambia have waited for this moment and they should not be betrayed by poor priority setting and misapplication of resources. Government should also show a strong commitment to a funding of poverty reduction activities from internal resources. This commitment can best be demonstrated through appropriate reduction in government spending in sectors that are not relevant for poverty reduction. We certainly welcome pronouncements by the government on their intentions to cut out wastage and unnecessary and unbudgeted for expenditure.
Fourthly and lastly, monitoring and evaluation of the PRSP implementation will be important. Civil society strongly believes that this will be the only way to determine the immediate, short and long-term impacts arising from the PRSP. We are glad with the proposed idea of developing a joint monitoring and evaluation system. Civil society will be genuinely supportive of government’s efforts to reach the ‘completion point’ in 2003. Through the PRSP consultations, we continuously came across one major concern to the Zambian people – the need for accountability, transparency and participation in the use of public resources. It is important that institutions such as the Auditor General’s office as well as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) are strengthened in order to improve the monitoring of the implementation of the PRSP.
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