3 000 children to get budgeting training

national budgeting processes and further imparting the knowledge to their peers.

The initiative will see Barclays Bank committing US$110 000 to Unicef to expand the training among youths.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Harare yesterday, Ministry of Finance secretary Mr Willard Manungo said the initiative would ensure greater resource allocation for children’s welfare.

In a speech read on his behalf by the principal director in the ministry Mr Pfungwa Kunaka, Mr Manungo said the initiative would promote young people’s contributions on financial issues directly affecting them.
“This process of participation will enable children to have a say over the way resources are allocated through participating in priority settings by parents, local authorities, private sector and the Government, even when resources are minimal,” said Mr Manungo.

Mr Manungo urged the corporate sector to continue engaging with the public sector for national development.
“I am convinced that with extra support from the international community, private sector and prioritisation in Government plans and budgets, it is possible to meet the targets in health, education and social protection and meet some of the Millennium Development Goals,” he said.

Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe managing director Mr George Guvamatanga said their hope was to re-shape the way young people think about finance issues.
“We believe in programmes that support knowledge transfer in areas of finance, enterprise and life skills,” said Mr Guvamatanga.
Unicef representative Mr Melesse Gebre-Egzi commended Barclays Bank for their support saying the initiative would help in simplifying budgeting processes to young people.

He said last year about 1 200 children across all 10 provinces participated in the national budgeting process resulting in development of a 10-point plan submitted to the Finance Ministry.

“We are greatly indebted to Barclays for their contribution because it will enable us to broaden the participation of children in this year’s budgeting process,” he said.
The idea of child-friendly national budgeting initiative was first mooted in 1998, but has been implemented on a limited scale due to lack of funding.