Government gets stiff on travelling expenses

Vincent Gono, News Editor

TREASURY has put in place a raft of measures meant to contain travelling costs, saying entourages should be kept to an absolute minimum as it pulls a zip on the national purse.

In circular Number Five of 2023 by the Permanent Secretary for Finance and Economic Development, Mr George Guvamatanga, Treasury noted that there was a surge in foreign business travel budget demands by various Government departments after Covid-19 subsided.

To curb the appetite for travelling, the secretary said, foreign trips were supposed to be sanctioned only when they satisfy conditions such as when the trip was to bring substantial benefit to the country, and when projected expenses for the trip were not excessive as well as when the presence of the official was critical to the outcome of the meeting.

“Expenditure on foreign travel and subsistence must continue to be strictly appraised and monitored. Accordingly, Accounting Officers should continue to ensure that only essential travel is undertaken and that the number of officers on any official journey is kept to the absolute minimum,” reads part of the circular.

Treasury further noted that before the trip was approved there should be satisfaction that all alternative forms of communication have been considered.

“Before the approval of foreign business travel all alternative forms of communication should be considered such as teleconferencing, videoconferencing and submission of position papers while the use of foreign diplomatic missions should be vigorously pursued as an alternative to travelling.

In the same vein, Government officials who may opt to travel using first class are expected to meet the upgrading expenses using their own individual funds.

The same principle applies for trips which are not funded by the Government of Zimbabwe,” reads part of the circular.
With regards to training, Treasury stressed that it would not fund any such expenses.

“Government officials including those in parastatals and State enterprises and local authorities can only proceed to travel and participate wherein full sponsorship is offered and secured from other sources.

These sources should not be government agencies, or department of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” said Mr Guvamatanga in the circular copied to all Ministries.