Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube says preliminary figures for the 2027 National Budget are expected to emerge during a Parliamentary Retreat in Bulawayo later this month, with the final fiscal framework only confirmed when he presents the Budget.
The retreat will provide an early indication of the Government’s spending and revenue plans for next year, although the figures will remain subject to adjustments as consultations and budget preparations continue.
Professor Ncube made the remarks during a wide-ranging online media briefing on Wednesday morning on the sidelines of the 2026 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.
He said the parliamentary meeting would provide the appropriate platform for discussing the emerging Budget framework and establishing preliminary figures.
“The right forum is a Parliamentary Retreat forum, which is taking place later this month in Bulawayo,” he said.
“At that meeting, we will be able to come up with a figure and sometimes that is not even the final figure by the way.
“The final figure only comes out the day i present the budget, we fine-tune until the very last minute.”
The Finance Minister said the retreat would provide an initial indication of the figures, but the definitive numbers would only be known when the 2027 National Budget is presented.
“The rough figure will be known during the Parliamentary retreat and most importantly on the day of the budget.”
The Budget is a key instrument for aligning public expenditure with national development priorities, while balancing revenue mobilisation, economic growth and fiscal sustainability.
Recently, budget consultations were held in various parts of the country.
