Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
Residents of Manicaland Province have called for increased Government funding for education, healthcare and road infrastructure.
They made the calls during a budget education and pre-consultation campaign conducted last week ahead of the formulation of the 2027 National Budget.
The campaign, organised by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion in conjunction with the Parliament of Zimbabwe Budget Office and the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, concluded in Mutasa District on Friday after traversing three districts in the province.
The outreach programme, which seeks to educate citizens on the national budget process while gathering public input for the 2027 National Budget, started in Buhera District at Murambinda on July 14 before moving to Makoni District in Rusape on Wednesday.
The campaign ended in Mutasa District. During the meetings, Government officials explained how the national budget is formulated and implemented, while community members were given an opportunity to express their priorities and make recommendations for consideration in the 2027 fiscal plan.
Among the key issues raised by participants was the need for the timely disbursement of funds under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), which assists vulnerable learners with school fees and related educational costs.
Residents also called for increased investment in the construction of schools to cater for growing populations in both urban and rural communities, saying that expanding access to education remains critical to national development.
Road infrastructure emerged as another major concern, with participants urging Government to allocate additional resources towards the rehabilitation and construction of roads to improve connectivity, facilitate trade and enhance access to essential services.
Communities also highlighted the need for greater funding for healthcare services, including the upgrading of health facilities, procurement of medicines and recruitment of health personnel to improve service delivery.
Officials said submissions gathered during the consultations had been compiled and would be forwarded to the relevant authorities for consideration during the formulation of the 2027 National Budget.
The budget education campaign forms part of Government’s broader efforts to promote citizen participation in public finance management by ensuring that communities understand the budget-making process and have an opportunity to contribute to national planning.
Officials described the programme as a success, citing strong attendance and active participation by residents across all three districts visited.
The consultations are part of the annual budget preparation cycle through which Government engages citizens, stakeholders and communities to identify priority areas for funding and development.
By incorporating public views into the budget formulation process, Government seeks to ensure that national resource allocation responds to the needs and aspirations of citizens while supporting the country’s broader development agenda. The 2027 National Budget is expected to be presented to Parliament later this year after nationwide consultations with citizens and key stakeholders have been completed.
