Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
THE 2022 National Budget should focus on programmes and policies that help uplift people’s lives and help engender trust between citizens and Government, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda has said.
He made the remarks in his keynote address during the pre-budget seminar for the 2022 National Budget in Harare on Wednesday.
“We need to earn the trust credit of our people as they assess our national economic balance sheet,” he said.
Advocate Mudenda said attaining fiscal sustainability, with the goal of achieving inclusive growth and development objectives set out in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) should guide the budget formulation process.
“As Parliament, we are obligated to ensure that the 2022 Budget Framework focuses on giving priority to strategic programmes accenting on the continued recovery and strengthening of the resilience of the country in the post-pandemic life.
“Given the scale of disruption induced by Covid-19, it must be recognised that extraordinary Government expenditure will be required to sustain aggregate demand and to support disposable incomes.
“In this respect, it is my fervent hope that you will, amongst others, recommend the upward review of the income tax bands but spread to lower levels over the spectrum of our economy, inclusive of the informal economy and consequently the notching up of the salaries of our hard-working and committed employees to stimulate aggregate demand.”
Online Reporter