2023 National Budget consultations begin
THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development has begun nationwide public consultations on the 2023 National Budget.
While public hearings are expected to be held physically across the country from Monday to Friday next week, the Treasury has already invited members of the public to start submitting their input.
After the consultations, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube is expected to then present the upcoming fiscal policy statement.
“Treasury has commenced budget formulation for the 2023 fiscal year in line with S1 127A of 2021(Public Finance Management (General) Regulations, 2021) and we are requesting your input on this critical policy document,” said the Ministry of Finance in a notice.
According to the Parliament of Zimbabwe, four teams will conduct the public hearings in different parts of the country.
In Matabeleland North province, the team will be at Agape Mission in Nkayi on Monday.
In Matabeleland South, the public will get a chance to submit their input on Monday at Omadu Hotel in Maphisa on Tuesday, Filabusi (Thursday) and round off on Friday at Jahunda Primary School in Gwanda.
In Bulawayo, the consultations will be held on Wednesday between 10.30AM and 12.30PM at Selbourne Hotel and Stanley Hall in Makokoba in the afternoon.
The director of Parliament’s budget office, Mr Chiwore urged members of the public to attend the hearings.
“Section 141 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for committees of Parliament to involve the people in its programmes. We are inviting the people of Zimbabwe to come to the public hearings that are being organised under the auspices of the expanded Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) committee,” he said.
Prof Mthuli Ncube
“These hearings are meant to seek the opinions and views of the people with regards to the ensuing 2023 budget.”
The Treasury has also said members of the public have an option to make their submissions through the ministry’s email address: feedback@zimtreasury.gov.zw by 15 October to give ample time for consolidation of their views.
The public hearings, which seek to strengthen Parliament and citizens’ role in the formulation of the national budget, are conducted every year in fulfilment of Section 28 (5) of the Public Finance Management Act.
In July, Prof Ncube tabled a $929 billion supplementary budget citing the need to steer development progress amid increasing costs occasioned by unforeseen global shock-induced inflationary pressures, which have eroded the original 2022 budget framework.
While the country’s economy remains on steady growth, the Treasury has revised downwards projected Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates from the initial 5.5 percent to 4.6 percent, reflecting the impact of the external global environment.
Through Vision 2030, the Government also wants to achieve an upper middle-income economy with per capita income approaching US$3 500.
The rolling out of public hearings, thus, buttresses Section 13 of the Constitution, which compels the State to involve the people in the formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes that affect them.-chronicle.oc.zw
