Call to prioritise agriculture

out during pre-budget consulta­tive meetings conducted by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Investment Promotion that visited Mutare on Tuesday and Masvingo yesterday.
The committee being led by Makoni West MP Mr Webber Chinyadza visited Marondera and was due to visit Chiredzi and Beitbridge as part of budget consultative meetings.
Local authorities also urged Government to pay them money they are owed in utility bills.
The local authorities’ representatives said it would be unfair to disconnect residents owing little amounts, while the Government owed millions and was not paying.
Students who attended the meetings implored the Government to fund them through grants and loans, saying there seemed to be a reluctance by Treasury to provide fund­ing to them.
A farmer in Odzi, Mrs Juliet Chiramba said governments in other countries supported farmers. She said it was “strange that Finance Minister Tendai Biti is reluctant to provide funds for the sector”.
“There is no government the world over that does not support farmers,” she said.
“Yes, we have been given land, but now what we need is support from the Government.”