As
Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda struts up the National Assembly stairs this afternoon to present the 2013 budget, not only interest groups will watch television with bated breath, ordinary Zambians will be watching, too.
Economic commentators have described this year’s budget as the ‘real Patriotic Front budget’ because last year’s budget was presented a month after Mr Chikwanda’s appointment in the new government.
And ordinary Zambians want to see how the new budget will address their needs.
The Daily Mail talked to a few Zambians yesterday and this is what they expect:
“The PF promised us many things during the campaigns in 2011…they promised more money and job creation and I would be happy if the budget can explain how government will address the high unemployment levels,” says Vincent Muke, a security guard in Lusaka.
Muke says he expects today’s budget to address job creation to reduce the high unemployment levels.
He expects the budget to look into the plight of workers who are getting a “raw deal” from their employers.
Muke said the budget should disclose how Government intends to improve the economy further, through infrastructure development.