Supplementary budget passed

Parliament yesterday passed the 2014/15 supplementary budget worth K769 billion (US$1.7 billion) amid misunderstandings over some votes.

Chief among the votes that courted controversy was that of the Road Fund Administration (RFA) which was revised downwards to K23 803 853 978 from K25 879 247 62. Most members of Parliament (MPs) who contributed to the debate queried the rationale behind the reduction at a time when most roads in the country require maintenance.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe asked the House to consider revising the Directorate of Public Prosecutions DPP and State Advocate vote to K462 325 786 from K495 704 252 and the Legal Aid Department from K227 295 094 to K210 353 377, but due to failure to clarify the reasons behind the reductions, most members shot down the vote, forcing Gondwe to retain the figures originally allocated.