"UNDERSTAND BUDGET PROCESSES BEFORE MAKING SUBMISSIONS-NSHINDANO

CSPR Executive Director Patrick Nshindano

Civil society organizations have called on all those making submissions for the 2018 national budget to first Identify their key areas of interest  and  understand the budgeting process before their submissions.

Speaking during the media capacity building workshop on budget and policy analysis, organized by the civil society for poverty reduction, USAID and Counterpart International, CSPR Executive Director Patrick Nshindano says that it is important to first identify the gaps in the budget process before any submissions are made to convince government in allocating resources to specific areas.

He says there should be no lapses in the submissions made, adding that they have to be aligned to the seventh national development planning.

Mr. Nshindano also adds that next year's budget should be centered towards poverty reduction so that it is responsive to the needs of society. He says the budget has now become so critical due to the challenges that the country is coupled with.

He says that the country's fiscal deficit and  high debt  levels should be centered towards critical budget management.

Meanwhile Mr. Nshindano has stated that social  accountability is another  weaknesses that the country has been faced with , further stating that government should provide the necessary oversight, so that they do not stray away from that which is budgeted for.

Mr. Nshindano has since urged the media and the civil society to also be enlightened on the budgetary process to provide the necessary safeguards that  ensures  that government does the right thing.