Craft pro-poor budget — VP Mnangagwa

Leonard Ncube
VICE-PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has implored legislators to craft a pro-poor national budget that will enhance socio-economic transformation and uplift the lives of citizens.
Officially opening the 2016 Pre-Budget Seminar in Victoria Falls yesterday, VP Mnangagwa who is also the leader of Government business in Parliament said the seminar must “set parameters for improving the quality of lives and living conditions of millions of people” by growing a national cake for socio-economic development in line with Zim Asset.

“I am enthused to have been invited to this 2016 Pre-Budget Seminar which gives me an opportunity to interact with fellow legislators on critical issues relating to budget formulation and prioritisation process. It is my fervent hope that as we undertake our deliberations in the next three days we will be able to come up with parameters for a budget that is responsive to our priorities as a nation while offering adequate scope for a balanced development and a growing economy,” said VP Mnangagwa.

He said the passing of Money Bills was one of the world’s most celebrated ways of ensuring equity based distribution of wealth in any given country.

“There is no better way of displaying deep-rotted patriotism than adequately providing for the needs of the people of this great nation. I therefore challenge legislators that we achieve our vision of a prosperous nation through passing laws that promote accelerated socio-economic development as enshrined in Zim Asset. We must all harness our energies and synergies towards the eradication of poverty in all its forms as this is a key avenue for upholding human dignity.

“No democracy can thrive when the masses remain in poverty and without tangible prospects for a better life. The systematic challenges that continue to persist necessitate that we confront the fundamental structural and distributional inconsistencies that impact on poverty, inequality and unemployment,” VP Mnangagwa said.

“As it turns out, the best way to propel economic development and transformation is to craft a budget which is people-centred and reflects the aspirations of our hardworking citizens.”

VP Mnangagwa said the theme for the seminar — Growing the national cake for national socio-economic development — was spot on as it reflects the country’s priorities as aptly captured in the economic blueprint, Zim Asset. He said the seminar was in line with the Constitution which calls for inclusion of the public in budget formulation and implementation, as stated in Section 13.

Speaking earlier, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda called on legislators to work together and help Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa come up with a Budget that will address concerns of the nation.