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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
PROVINCIAL Councils and local authorities will next year receive US$200 million from Government for operations in line with provisions of the new constitution.
This was said by Finance and Economic Planning Minister Patrick Chinamasa, when he presented the 2014 national budget.
“Section 301 (3) of the constitution provides “not less than five percent of the national revenues in any financial year must be allocated to Provinces and Local Authorities as their share in that year” to meet their social and economic developmental needs.
“Based on the projected revenue for 2014, the share of the Provincial and Local Authorities would amount to US$200 million.
“The Provincial Councils will have to work with the respective line ministries and councils for identification of relevant projects and programmes,” Minister Chinamasa said.
The Provincial and Metropolitan Councils were established by the new Constitution as part of the devolution of power and will be responsible for among other things, the social and economic development of their respective provinces.
The constitution, however, requires that an Act of Parliament must provide for the establishment of structure and staff of provincial and metropolitan councils and the manner in which they exercise their functions.
Online Reporter