Budget to cover new ministries

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Funding for the newly-established ministries created following a Cabinet reshuffle last week, will come from the National Budget announced last month as most of their functions were part of existing ministries, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa told the National Assembly yesterday. Minister Chinamasa said this during debate on the budget following questions by Kuwadzana legislator Mr Nelson Chamisa and his Binga North counterpart Mr Prince Dubeko Sibanda.

President Mugabe created the Ministry of Economic Planning led by Minister Simon Khaya Moyo and that of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Detainees and Restrictees.

“Some of the elements within that ministry (Economic Planning) will come from my ministry and all the cost items embedded in that budget will automatically go to that ministry.

“The same applies to the new ministry of war veterans. As you know, they are currently under the Ministry of Defence so the provision of war veterans would be hived off without any additional budget allocation,” Minister Chinamasa said.

He also said he was allowed to make any adjustments by law and re-allocate resources as the need arises.

“As you know, as changes are made, I also have the authority to re-allocate resources within the same budget envelope,” he said.

The new ministries were established following the dismissal of former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her cabal accused of trying to illegally remove President Mugabe from office and planning his assassination.