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“You are complaining that there is no money yet your spending says something else. That money could be used to build several houses for the homeless in Bulawayo,” said Mrs Masuku drawing thunderous applause from the floor.
The participants took turns to accuse Minister Biti of sidelining Bulawayo and its sister provinces Matabeleland North and South in the allocation and disbursement of funding for outstanding capital projects.
They demanded assurance that this time around the minister was going to make allocations that resonate with the region’s development needs.
“Your ministry is presiding over a jobless economy. Here in Bulawayo companies are closing and we do not have water. The 2013 budget must bring practical and positive change to the situation in the city,” said Mr Peter Zwide KaLanga Khumalo who was representing the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Khumalo is a descendant of the Ndebele King, Lobengula.
The participants challenged Treasury to channel more funding towards infrastructure development and revival of companies.
Bulawayo provincial administrator Mrs Khonzani Ncube said several capital projects in the city had remained in limbo for many years due to lack of funding from Treasury.
They also called for the decentralisation of the tender board saying Bulawayo firms were not benefiting from businesses in the city.
Ms Hazel Tshuma, who represented people living with disabilities, blasted Minister Biti, saying Treasury was not sensitive to their plight.
Mr Stephen Dube, who represented the elderly, also castigated Minister Biti for failing to provide funding for senior citizens.
Mr Khumbulani Maphosa from the civil society complained that road projects from Matabeleland were not given priority in funding. Mr Descent Bajila from the MDC castigated Minister Biti for failing to finance adequately the cadetship scheme for students in tertiary institutions.
Business people also complained over what they called a restrictive tax regime which they said was suffocating the already distressed firms in the city.
Dr Wedu Ndebele, who represented the health sector, said Bulawayo was in dire need of specialist doctors and expressed concern over lack of funding for equipment and upgrading of infrastructure in the city’s referral hospitals.
Bulawayo City Council Town Clerk Mr Middleton Nyoni said Minister Biti should allocate substantial funding for development of water sources and rehabilitation of ageing sewer and water infrastructure.
Farmers accused the minister of sidelining livestock projects and called for prioritisation of the sector.
In his response, Minister Biti, who was accompanied by his Permanent Secretary Mr Willard Manungo, admitted that Matabeleland has not been receiving a fair share of the national cake.
“When you come to Bulawayo or Matabeleland it is as if you are coming to another country because of the sense of alienation and uneven development and distribution of the national cake.
“Over the years our budget has been Shonalised. We are sensitive to these issues, the drought in Mat South, water problems and closure of industries in Bulawayo,” said Minister Biti.
He assured participants that his ministry would prioritise funding of industries in next year’s budget.
Online Reporter