adminThe civil servants representatives said in separate interviews that they were disappointed that Minister Biti decided to evade the issue of civil servants’ salaries.
They said they held consultations with the Ministry of Finance before the budget at which they demanded a review of their salaries so that the lowest paid worker earned about $500 a month, up from about $253.
Businesspeople in Bulawayo said they were disappointed that Minister Biti did not set aside a specific fund to resuscitate ailing industries in the city.
Economists felt the targeting of clusters for investment based on a region’s resources was an excellent move that would stimulate economic growth, while residents applauded the allocation of money towards the completion of a number of projects in Matabeleland.
Speaking on the issue of civil servants salaries, the secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Mr Raymond Majongwe, said the budget fell far short of expectations.
“It is a tragedy. This budget is not pro-poor at all. In fact, it creates a vicious circle of poverty for workers especially civil servants,” said Mr Majongwe.
He said the failure by Minister Biti to make provisions for salary review for civil servants meant that the civil servants and their families would continue to wallow in poverty.
“The private sector normally sets salaries based on what the Government is paying its workers. Failing to increase our salaries means they are saying anyone can come to the country to exploit Zimbabweans by paying them peanuts,” said Mr Majongwe.
He said PTUZ had set 2012 as the year for the definition of roles for workers’ unions.
“If we fail to change this perennial issue of getting low salaries next year, then all unions should shut up and ship out. 2012 is the year to show who is who when it comes to labour issues,” said Mr Majongwe.
The chairperson of the Apex Council, the representative body for all civil servants, Mrs Tendai Chikowore, said although the budget seemed to present a bleak picture for civil servants, there was still hope because the Ministry of Public Service was still to meet workers and advise them what 2012 had in store for them.
“Although we are yet to meet over the budget, I can say I have not seen a clear provision for salary increases in it. The issue should be clarified before the Christmas holidays. It would be premature for me to make further comments now because we are yet to meet with the technocrats who deal with the issue of salaries. They are the ones who will explain to us what the Government is offering,” said Mrs Chikowore, who is also the president of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta).
She said civil servants were still insisting on the minimum salary of $500 per month.
The chairperson of the public service association, Mrs Cecilia Alexander, said it would be premature for her to comment.
“When we held consultations before the budget, we were told that some money will be set aside for salary increases. It would be terrible if the money is not there. We are waiting to see what will happen when we hold our meeting with ministry officials who are responsible for distributing the funds allocated to the public service,” she said.
Dr Eric Bloch an economic analyst said the budget had good and bad things.
“I was disappointed when the tax threshold was increased by only U$25 to $250. This means that poor workers who earn below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) are still getting taxed. There is no relief for them,” said Dr Bloch.
He said Minister Biti did not say anything about reducing the number of civil servants from about 235 000 to a figure that could be sustained by the economy.
“We were told that about 75 000 of those workers are ghost workers. Increasing the royalties in mining was another disappointment because it will deter players in the industry from investing to increase production, which is necessary for further economic growth,” he said.
Dr Bloch said he was pleased that there was an increased allocation for education and health ministries.
“Another plus is the removal of duty on items that are not available locally and the introduction of customs tariffs on goods that compete with local manufacturers. This will also stimulate growth in the manufacturing sector,” said Dr Bloch.
He also called for the alignment of the country’s tax laws with those in the region to promote harmonious capacity utilisation of resources.
The Bulawayo chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), Mrs Ntombenhle Moyo, said although the budget had been good for infrastructural development in Matabeleland, it was disappointing when it came to business.
“Bulawayo was once the country’s industrial hub but now it is crumbling. We expected the minister to allocate a specific fund for Bulawayo industries. As it is, we are not sure if the $30 million DIMAF is for the city or the entire country,” said Mrs Moyo.
She said priority should be on reviving industries in the city in order to create employment and increase the city’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
A business consultant, Mr James Dube, said the allocation of resources for clusters of development based on an area’s resources was made the budget the best ever.
“This will ensure that all provinces get funds to develop specific areas that exploit natural resources found in their respective areas. Matabeleland North may finally get to exploit its natural gas reserves that have been lying idle for years,” said Mr Dube.
He said he was also happy that the budget had allocated funds towards the completion of projects in Matabeleland.
The projects include the Gwayi-Shangani Dam- a major component of the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, the Faculty of Agriculture building at the Lupane Sate University (LSU), the completion of the new terminal at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport and the completion of the library at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust).
The director of information and public relations at (Nust), Mr Felix Moyo, said the university was pleased to get the $7,5 million allocation towards the completion of the library.
“About $16 million is needed to complete the project. We are very happy to get this allocation. We had planned to have the building finished in two years and this is now possible because we have been promised the remainder in the 2013 budget,” said Mr Moyo.
Players in the tourism sector in Victoria Falls commended Minister Biti noting that there was a need to attend to issues such as the development and implementation of a National Tourism Master Plan.
They applauded the minister for also seeing the need to review the Tourism Act to streamline the roles of the different players, strengthen the national web portal for easy access of information and reservations by tourists, locally and internationally and the establishment of efficient, well stocked and equipped Tourist Information Centres at all major ports of entry.
Mr Blessing Munyanyiwa, the managing director of Wilderness Safaris said the rehabilitation and development of tourism infrastructure was going to change the face of the sector.
“We commend the budget and we hope what was promised will be implemented.
“As players in the industry we also need funding to buy new vehicles ahead of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in 2013,” he said.
Online Reporter