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Ngoni Dapira
MANICALAND is upbeat about the 2016 National Budget expected to be announced on November 26 by the Finance and Economic Development Minister, Cde Patrick Chinamasa.
Post Business interviewed a cross section of people in business, civic organisation and various professions who all pinned hope on pragmatic economic turn-around resolutions in the 2016 National Budget.
Consultations have been done countrywide by both business lobby groups and Government, with people expressing a range of concerns freely.
People called for an improvement on inclusivity of their suggestions in the final deliberations that will be presented by Cde Chinamasa, citing that in past years pre-budget consultations were talk shows that saw little to none of issues contributed expressed in the final blueprint.
The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce in September held its pre-budget consultations with captains of industry, while the Ministry of Finance in October targeted the views of the masses in general.
However, the consensus in both pre-budget consultations was for a practical, pro-poor budget that will direct more resources towards developmental concerns and less on recurrent expenditure as been the case in past years.
However, recent disclosures and economic turnaround strides made by Government this year and measures announced by Cde Chinamasa in his mid-term Fiscal Policy have been cited as a window of hope by critics who look forward to an affirmative 2016 National Budget.
Eve Employment Consultancy director, Mr Caleb Kunze, said Government should further review the current custom duties policy in the 2016 National Budget to facilitate growth of local firms.
He added that the revival of the country’s manufacturing industry should be a chief priority, not only to create employment, but to also control the cost of living in the country which is currently on the increase.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe Manicaland regional officer, Mr Barnabas Masamvu, concurred and urged Government to increase duty on non-consumptive goods to give a competitive edge to local industry still finding its footing.
Mr Masamvu said the recent removal of some non-consumptive goods from the traveller’s monthly rebate of $300 was a positive development
given the influx of imported goods readily available on the market, such as cooking oil, flour, maize meal, sugar, fish, powdered milk, jam, eggs, honey, yoghurt and cheese which were all removed from the rebate.
ZNCC Manicaland chairlady, Ms Molly Mupfunya, said it was important for Government to be realistic in its pronouncements and walk the talk in implementing economic turnaround policies which the country direly needs.
Several people called for Government to cut its huge labour bill which is currently seeing a lot of revenue being channelled towards civil servants salaries and recurrent expenditure.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries Manicaland chairman, Mr Richard Chiwandire, called for the quick enactment of the
Special Economic Zones Bill and Joint Ventures Bill.
He said the two were key in triggering big business in the country particularly in Manicaland where a lot of idle projects can be harnessed in Agriculture and mining.
Kenrose Filters managing director, Mr Kenneth Dziruni, said to allow re-capitalisation of business there should be duty free on production machinery in 2016.
Of late, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has been staggering Value Added Tax payment to 120 days for VAT registered clients that imported production machinery, but business said zero duty was the best incentive to attract companies to re-capitalise and increase productivity with new-line machinery.
Affirmative Action Group Manicaland chairman, Mr Fungai Chaeruka, said there was need for transparency and monitoring of capital loans injected in non-performing parastatals.
“In 2016, we want Government to channel money to productive sectors when funding comes from multi-national institutions.
“In past years a lot of money has been channelled to dead wood parastatals, but we want transparency and justification on how the funds will be disbursed especially to parastatals,” said Mr Chaeruka.
Online Reporter