Strategic Objective:
By 2013, Caritas Zambia will have promoted sustainable use of natural resources and influenced economic policies and reforms for the benefit of the poor and the vulnerable people
Despite Zambia’s rich endowment vis-à-vis natural resources, human resources, mineral resources, water bodies, animals and forests; poverty continues to be high. Several stakeholders are concerned about the unequal benefits from the economic activities from the extraction of the natural resources. Other concerns include the unequal preferences given to foreign investors at the expense of Zambians and this is exhibited in the tax holidays that are given to the mine sectors and also the development agreements that the government signed with the foreign investors.
Citizens’ access to information related to the national budget is mandated by a host of human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Article 19; ICCPR Article 19(2); and African Charter Art. 9. Likewise, the right of people to participate freely in government affairs such as the preparation of government budgets is guaranteed by UDHR Art. 21(2) and ICCPR Art. 25. However the Zambian government as failed to adequately provide for the platforms were the citizenry can participate in the national budget debates before and after the national budget is finalised. Human rights are violated as people are excluded from participated in the budget formulation and the funding is not given to support the basic human rights priority programmes and projects under the budget. Government wrongly targeted the priority areas as the people are not consulted
Caritas Zambia plans to work on promoting economic and environmental justice through various activities. The organisation will carry out research and advocacy work as well as training of various actors including its own staff. Three sub programmes will be implemented and these are 1) Natural Resources 2) Economic Justice and 3) Social Accountability.
By 2013, Caritas Zambia will have promoted sustainable use of natural resources and influenced economic policies and reforms for the benefit of the poor and the vulnerable people
Despite Zambia’s rich endowment vis-à-vis natural resources, human resources, mineral resources, water bodies, animals and forests; poverty continues to be high. Several stakeholders are concerned about the unequal benefits from the economic activities from the extraction of the natural resources. Other concerns include the unequal preferences given to foreign investors at the expense of Zambians and this is exhibited in the tax holidays that are given to the mine sectors and also the development agreements that the government signed with the foreign investors.
Citizens’ access to information related to the national budget is mandated by a host of human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Article 19; ICCPR Article 19(2); and African Charter Art. 9. Likewise, the right of people to participate freely in government affairs such as the preparation of government budgets is guaranteed by UDHR Art. 21(2) and ICCPR Art. 25. However the Zambian government as failed to adequately provide for the platforms were the citizenry can participate in the national budget debates before and after the national budget is finalised. Human rights are violated as people are excluded from participated in the budget formulation and the funding is not given to support the basic human rights priority programmes and projects under the budget. Government wrongly targeted the priority areas as the people are not consulted
Caritas Zambia plans to work on promoting economic and environmental justice through various activities. The organisation will carry out research and advocacy work as well as training of various actors including its own staff. Three sub programmes will be implemented and these are 1) Natural Resources 2) Economic Justice and 3) Social Accountability.
