KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY
THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
HON. ADV. J. F MUDENDA
AT THE
2017 PRE-BUDGET SEMINAR
ELEPHANT HILLS HOTEL, VICTORIA FALLS
9 NOVEMBER 2017,
Let me start by extending a warm and fraternal welcome to you all to this critically important Pre-Budget Seminar whose theme is “ Consolidating economic development and transformation through domestic resource mobilisation and utilisatio n”. This theme can be consummated if Parliament and the Executive share unfettered developmental ideas which cement a common vision extrapolated upon pluralistic extractive economic and political institutions. History has recorded that from the 13th Century English Magna Carta right up to the industrial revolution of countries such as Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and Malaysia, Parliaments have played a crucial role in providing the necessary legislation for that accelerated development. No National Budget can achieve its intended economic development goals if it is not premised on progressive legislation which promotes the EASE OF DOING BUSINESS in a country. In that regard, it is my fervent hope that the 22 identified pieces of legislation by the Office of the President and Cabinet Technical Committee will soon be presented as Bills to Parliament for enactment in order to improve our EASE OF DOING BUSINESS. Responsible and relevant Parliamentary Committees must cause this process to accelerate before the end of the year.
