Public Debt Limits Government Social Sector Spending- Anamela

 …impacts negatively on the most vulnerable, especially women and girls

 Friday, 12th April 2024. Non-governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Executive Director, Anne Mbewe Anamela says debt limits the government’s social sector spending and negatively impacts the most vulnerable women and girls.

Speaking when she was featured on a Panel during a half-day inception meeting for a project dubbed “Advocacy for Transparency Through Enhanced Women’s Participation in Public Debt Management in Zambia” organized by the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR), Ms. Anamela said while debt affected everybody, its impacts on women and men differed greatly.

She noted that debt also limited the fiscal space available for the government to respond to economic emergencies such as the current drought.

And speaking at the same meeting, Women in Law in Southern Africa Executive Director, Ms. Sharon Williams emphasized the need to ensure inclusive participation in public debt management and acquisition.

She reiterated the need for the inclusion of the expanded bill of rights in the Constitution if women were to realize better national budgetary outcomes, which included social safety nets in times of debt.

Civil Society Organisations Debt Alliance Coordinator, Mr. Peter Mumba emphasised that debt restructuring did not mean debt cancellation and further urged the government to limit its borrowing so as not to trigger an increase in interest rates which ultimately would affect women more.

CSPR Executive Director, Ms. Faides Temba Temba underscored the need for all stakeholders to galvanize the demand for prudence in public debt management and also called for a concerted effort on the need to develop debt management strategies that respond to the needs and demands of the people encompassing the voices of the vulnerable groups.

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