Finance Bill sails through Senate

Herald Reporter
The Financial Adjustment Bill, which seeks to condone unauthorised expenditure in Financial Year 2013, sailed through Senate yesterday. Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the unauthorised expenditure was to cover important national events like the referendum and the harmonised elections.

The Bill now awaits Presidential assent before it becomes law.

Minister Chinamasa said no provision had been made for the two national events because a dispute arose in the inclusive Government on how to fund them.

He was responding to a question from Mashonaland Central Senator Damien Mumvuri (Zanu-PF) on why no provision was made when it was known that the country would have a referendum and elections.

“I don’t want to open old wounds. The truth of the matter is that we had political differences over how these important national events should be funded. Some said this should be funded externally while others said it should be done internally. In the end these events were not provided for,” said Minister Chinamasa.

“The view that these events should be funded domestically prevailed.”
Manicaland Senator Patrick Chitaka (MDC-T) asked why the Bill took long to be brought to Parliament.

Minister Chinamasa said he was appointed to Cabinet in September 2013 while the expenditure was made in March and July 2013.