President Hakainde Hichilema says the government has taken the lead in responding to the emergency created by the drought by aligning its expenditure and taking other proactive measures.
President Hichilema says it is essential that as other people help Zambia through this difficult period, Zambians themselves show the willingness and ability to help themselves first.
He said the international community has shown a strong willingness to support Zambia through their pledged and committed offer of relief assistance.
“I’m just from coming from a visit to the UK and I met King Charles III. I raised the issue, they pledged their support. This week, we’ll have another cooperating partner coming here to offer their support towards this emergency,” President Hichilema said during his address to the nation at State House on Tuesday.
“I say this for citizens to know that they are not alone in this war, this is a war.”
However, President Hichilema reiterated his government’s commitment to providing local solutions to respond to the drought emergency despite having received full support from the international community.
“It is said that charity begins at home; we must walk the talk as a nation,” he said. “So, the President asked Cabinet and it agreed. Therefore, I instructed the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to realign the 2024 National Budget so we can take the first steps as citizens of Zambia in raising resources to feed the vulnerable in 84 districts and increase resilience.”
“This is a complete realignment to move resources away from non-critical areas. I think everything in the budget is important but as life is, there are things that are more important than others when you are faced with a situation like this one.”
The executive awaits the National Assembly to approve its proposed K41.9 billion supplementary budget. This realigns the 2024 National Budget to allocate funds to areas critical for averting humanitarian crises, such as hunger and starvation, for citizens during the emergency period.
