Govt Releases Cabinet Meeting Briefing Resolutions

LUSAKA (Wednesday, May 13, 2015) — At its 9th Meeting held on 11th and 12th May 2015 at State House, Cabinet discussed fourteen (14) substantive Agenda items and the following were the decisions made:
(a) Negotiation Parameters for Improved Salaries and Conditions of Service:
Under this item, Cabinet approved the negotiation parameters between Government and the Trade Unions following the President’s announcement during the Labour Day celebrations.

(b) Transport Management in the Public Service.
Government has introduced a transport management system that is aimed at reducing the cost of running the huge Government fleet and through this decision, Government shall be saving approximately K10 billion per year in managing transport in institutions in the three arms of Government as well as in the Quasi-government institutions.
It is expected that such savings will be directed to capital projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of the many citizens.

(c) Appointment of Members of Class “A” of the Development Bank of Zambia Board of Directors.
Under this Item, Cabinet approved the appointment of Board of Directors for Class “A” of the Development Bank of Zambia. This is following the expiry of the mandate on 3rd January 2015 for the previous Board of Directors.
It is, therefore, necessary that the Board of Directors are appointed so that they can continue to provide guidance on matters pertaining to policy and general administration of the affairs and business of the Development bank of Zambia.

(d) Financial Intelligence Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
Under this item, Cabinet approved the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, No. 46 of 2010. The proposed amendment aims to provide for the operations and functions of the Financial Intelligence Centre to effectively supervise and monitor the implementation of activities aimed at combating money laundering and terrorist financing and other serious offences in the country.
This is in line with the Eastern and South Africa Anti Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), to which Zambia is an active member.

(e) Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (ML/TF) National Risk Assessment.
Under this item, Cabinet approved that Government should undertake the Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism National Risk Assessment (NRA) in preparation for Zambia’s forthcoming Mutual Evaluation by the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group in the Year 2016. The National Risk Assessment will help to identify, understand and assess the money laundering and terrorism financing risk that the country faces.

(f) The Accountants (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
Under this item, Cabinet approved the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the Accountants Act No. 13 of 2008, to provide for the enhancement of professionalism and integrity in the accounting profession.

(g) The Customs and Excise (Port of Entry Routes) (Amendment) Order, 2014.
Under this item, Cabinet approved the recommendation to amend the Customs and Excise (Ports of Entry Routes) (Amendment) Order in order to extend the operating hours of Kasumbalesa, Chembe and Mukambo border posts from 12 hours to 24 hours.

This measure is aimed at decongesting these borders and improve trade between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In line with this, Government shall ensure that necessary security measures are put in place for safety of both the lives of the people and the goods.

(h) The Constitution (Amendment) bill, 2015. CAB. (15) 39
Under this Item, Cabinet approved the recommendation by the Electoral Commission of Zambia to create six new constituencies in order to cater for the six new districts whose boundaries cut across constituency boundaries resulting in those constituencies belonging to more than one district. The recommendation by the ECZ followed consultations with all political parties under the ECZ Political Liaison Committee and all political parties agreed to the creation of the six new constituencies.

The affected Districts and Constituencies are:
(1) Siavonga Constituency belongs to both Siavonga district and the new district, Chirundu;
(2) Sinjembela Constituency belongs to both Shangombo district and the new district, Sioma;
(3) Mansa Central Constituency belongs to both Mansa district and the new district, Chembe;
(4) Kaoma Central Constituency belongs to both Kaoma district and the new district, Nkeyema;
(5) Kapiri Mposhi Constituency belongs to both Kapiri Mposhi district and the new district, Ngabwe; and
(6) Kapoche Constituency belongs to both Petauke district and the new district, Sinda.
There will however be no elections in the six new constituencies until the General elections in 2016. This measure is to enable the ECZ to register voters when they commence the voter registration exercise in August this year.
(i) Governance: Amendment to the Constitution.
Under this Item, Cabinet approved the recommendation by the Minister of Justice to commence the enactment of a new Constitution by Parliament in a phased manner by taking to Parliament non-contentious clauses and subjecting the Bill of rights and contentious clauses to a Referendum to be held simultaneously with the 2016 General Elections. Cabinet also approved the recommendation to appoint Members of the Electoral Commission as Members of the Referendum Commission to prepare for the Referendum.
(j) Status of Rwandan refugees after the invocation of the ceased circumstances cessation clause.
Under this Item, Cabinet approved the recommendation to grant alternative status to the remaining Rwandan refugees who meet the criteria. This follows the invocation of the ceased circumstances cessation clause, which took effect on 30th June 2013.
(k) The Professional Secretaries Association of Zambia Bill, 2015.
Under this Item, Cabinet approved the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to provide for the establishment of the Professional Secretaries Association of Zambia (PSAZ) as a statutory body. This is aimed at enhancing professionalism and integrity in the secretarial staff in both the public and private sector.
(l) Budget Execution: Statement of Government Operations – 2015 Fiscal Year
Under this Item, Cabinet approved measures to address the financing gap in the execution of the 2015 Budget that include among other things both external and internal borrowing and rationalization of expenditures and use of alternative financing mechanisms for infrastructure development.
(m) Agriculture: Farmer Input Support Programme: Electronic Voucher System for the 2015/2016 Agricultural Season
Under this item, Cabinet approved the introduction of the Electronic Voucher (E-Voucher) System in a phased approach under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) as a means of providing smallholder farmers with support for fertilizer, seed and other livestock and fisheries inputs.
The implementation of this measure is expected to enhance cost effectiveness in the supply of inputs to the farming community, as well as to encourage increased private sector participation in supplying and distributing a variety of inputs to farmers. This is part of Government policy to promote diversification in the agricultural sector.
(n) Crop Forecasting Survey, 2014/2015 agriculture season.
Under this item the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock informed Cabinet that he will in due course announce the results of the crop forecasting survey for the 2014/2015 Agricultural Season.

Issued by:
Hon. Ngosa Simbyakula
MINISTER OF JUSTICE
(ACTING CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON)

Posted by Kunda on May 13, 2015. Filed under POLITICS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry