Lavushimanda Town Council Secretary Jonas Mwendakawa has called for the 2027 annual budget to prioritise measures aimed at mitigating the anticipated effects of El Niño conditions in the country. Mr Mwendakawa said the 2027 budget should take into account measures to mitigate the…

Lavushimanda Town Council Secretary Jonas Mwendakawa has called for the 2027 annual budget to prioritise measures aimed at mitigating the anticipated effects of El Niño conditions in the country.

Mr Mwendakawa said the 2027 budget should take into account measures to mitigate the negative effects of the expected El Niño conditions.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Lavushimanda Town Council Director of Planning Daniel Mikandu during the 2026 budget performance stakeholders review meeting held at Mununga Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church.

He said climate-resilient projects should be integrated into the planning and budgeting processes to address the effects of climate change.

“Emphasis will be on inclusive growth, climate resilience, social equity and institutional strengthening,” Mr Mwendakawa said.

He said human capital development should also remain central to the budgeting process, with health, education and social protection being prioritised.

Mr Mwendakawa further called for adequate consideration of cross-cutting issues such as gender mainstreaming, disability support, food and nutrition, and the control of infectious diseases in the preparation of the 2027–2029 Medium-Term Budgeting Plan and the 2027 Annual Budget.

He said the budgeting process should also support the Government’s Grow Zambia Agenda and its 10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1 production targets aimed at accelerating economic growth, increasing domestic production, expanding economic opportunities and creating jobs.

Mr Mwendakawa said the budget performance review provides stakeholders with an opportunity to receive feedback on what has been achieved, as well as the successes and challenges encountered in implementing the 2026 budget.

Meanwhile, Lavushimanda Town Council Socio-Economic Planner Mushimba Phiri has urged stakeholders to align the 2027 projects with the District Integrated Development Plan (IDP).

Mr Phiri said the district has an IDP which is running from 2022 to 2031.

“As we review our 2026 budget performance, we need to ensure that we align our 2027 projects with our IDP,” he said.

He explained that the document is not only meant to benefit the statutory environment but also the customary areas, noting that it is intended to benefit the whole district and not only the Central Business District.