Press Release 15thAugust2013On Sunday 11 August, 2013, the Minister of Finance Honourable Alexander Chikwanda, held a briefing on fiscal and other treasury matters. The briefing was partly in response to various concerns bordering on the performance of the 2013 budget thus far. Different sections of society have expressed fears suggesting a looming or actual budget deficit beyond the 2013 budget provision of 4.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “While the government made assurances that the perceived budget deficit is within manageable limits, it is important that the government is seen to manage the deficit in ways that do not worsen the livelihoods of the majority poor’’, notes Daniel Mutale, Social Conditions programme manager. READ MORE JCTR BASIC NEEDS BASKET Lusaka July 2013