- The poverty challenge is huge with 75% of the population estimated to be falling below the total poverty consumption line (TPCL) while 80% of the working population fall below the poverty datum line (PDL) of Z$23 000 per month gross income. There is no doubt that social issues and economic issues are closely related. The challenge is to provide a minimum targeted guaranteed resource level in the national budget so as to protect the human resource base even under economic hardships because this is a prerequisite fro resuscitating the economy.
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The national budget should reflect the following priorities in the social sector allocations:
Priority 1- Health: To address impact of HIV/AIDS epidemic, brain drain in the health sector and the continuous increase in user fees.
Priority 2- Education: To address the brain drain in the education sector, increase in levies and tuition fees and curriculum to make it more development oriented. Tertiary education needs protection and support under the environment of economic hardships instead of leaving to private sector, which is also struggling.
Priority 3- Housing: In urban areas 1 in 10 households are tenants, 50% are loggers and many displaced under structural changes are homeless. The challenge is for the national budget to support the provision of basic shelter to the majority of the population mainly in urban areas.
Priority 4- Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare: Given the poverty challenge, there is need to revive the Social Dimension Fund's safety nets with more resources and better management systems.
Priority 5- Agriculture: There is need for a clear strategy to support resettled farmers with infrastructure, agriculture finance and extension, markets etc.
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