Cabinet has approved a bill that will ensure that Parliament has oversight over debt to be acquired by the executive.
The Public Debt Management Bill, 2022 will ensure that the Executive Organ of Government no longer obtains loans without the approval by Parliament.
Chief Government spokesperson CHUSHI KASANDA says the new dawn administration believes in running an open Government where checks and balances are allowed in the overall governance of the country.
She says Cabinet feels that the current debt burden, the country is struggling with, could have been avoided if Parliament was allowed to preside over the acquisition of the many loans Government is owing to pay to its lenders.
The minister said in a statement to ZNBC News that Cabinet hopes the law will be put in place during the September sitting of Parliament so that the 2023 Budget is premised on it.
She said the 13th Cabinet meeting called by President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA yesterday also approved seven other bills for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting.
These include the Road Traffic Amendment Bill targeted at revising among others penalties for driving offences, the Public Roads Amendment Bill, Tobacco Bill, the Zambia Institute of Public Relations and Communication Bill, the Children’s Code Bill, the Peal Code Amendment Bill and the Probation of Offenders Amendment) Bill.
MS KASANDA says Cabinet also tabled the 2022 Census of Population and Housing preparation and Recruitment of Field staff.