Parliament needs an additional week to scrutinize the midterm budget review,

Possibility is high that parliament will require an additional week or so for the current sitting to scrutinize the midterm budget review, which finance minister Dr Ken Lipenga now says he present in the house Tuesday.

Leader of the House Mr. Henry Phoya confirmed in an interview that there is a high likelihood that scrutiny of the midterm budget would require additional time.

This follows a dramatic reversal of a decision by the finance minister to present the budget in June.

Without being specific on the date when finance minister would present his revised budget, Mr Phoya said considering the requirement for effective scrutiny, there are high chances that the sitting will be extended.

Speaker, Henry Chimunthu Banda hinted that the Dr Lipenga “would present the revised figures in the house on Tuesday next week or thereabout”.

But Mr Phoya did not specify on the day.

“Either Tuesday or Wednesday government will come back to the house to present the budget,” said Mr Phoya.

There is less than a week before Parliament rises within which the MPs would be expected to scrutinize the budget vote by vote under the committee of supply is there not extension.

But Mr Phoya said, “The process of scrutinizing the budget is very important not only to the house but to the nation.

“For that reason if it becomes necessary, then the sitting is extended. If it becomes necessary, government will extend the meeting in order to allow proper scrutiny.”

On Thursday, Dr ipenga announced that government had withdrawn the revised 2012/13 budget, a decision he rescinded a few hours letter at an impromptu press briefing.

Mr Phoya justified Dr Lipenga’s sentiments on the issue saying “the statement was motivated by the fact that the figures he earlier presented no longer apply to the current trend.

This is mainly due to other developments and the major one being the 61 pay rise to civil servant, according to Mr Phoya.

“The figures are to be changed as they are no longer valid and within the next few days government will be coming to back Parliament with the changed figures,” he said.

Recently, the finance minister said due to the kwacha devaluation and other macro-economic factors, the budget increased from K 408 billion to K 475 billion in the 2012/2013 financial year.