adminNgoni Dapira Business Correspondent
MANICALAND residents have called for a realistic 2016 National Budget that will fund community development projects in the country and improve the standard of living. The Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Cde Patrick Chinamasa is next Thursday expected to announce the budget. With a struggling formal sector and an emerging informal sector, little has been going towards treasury to increase the national purse.
Minister Chinamasa will try to work on high Government wage bill and deal with national macro-economic developmental concerns that are being hindered by lack of funding. Those interviewed expressed concern about budgets being a farce, but also pinned hope that next week’s pronouncements might spur development and give an impetus for employment creation.
Mr Taurai Nyandoro said the issue of energy must be tackled head on for both domestic and commercial consumption. He called for reduction in tariffs for commercial units and suggested use of renewable energy in homes to complement the national grid deficit.
“If we are to promote renewable energy means like solar geysers for domestic use then the Minister should allow people to import the gadgets duty free. “Industry is also being gravely affected by unavailability of consistent energy supply which has a bearing on the cost of doing business.
“Industry is dying due to high costs of doing business. “This should be dealt with head on,” said Mr Nyandoro. Ms Mercy Mugari underscored the need for a pragmatic national budget. “These budgets over the years have been talk-shops which has led to us to brush them aside.
“We really hope the Finance Minister will give us a realistic budget that will impact the concerns of the people on socio-economic issues,” she said. Jack Macheso called for the acceleration of the Public Corporate Governance Act to reign in corrupt elements in local authorities. He also called for the development of road infrastructures which is inflating pricing of goods particularly fruits and vegetables from farmers.
“Corruption is high in local authorities. “You see them (local authority officials) milking vendors at vegetable stalls of their hard earned money. “We want to see is action on corrupt officials in public institutions,” said Mr Macheso. A youth who preferred to be identified as Fatso said indigenization and empowerment projects must be heavily funded.
Ms Kuda Matera called for reduction of duty on clothing to reduce smuggling. She said banning second-hand clothing and increasing duty would only encourage smuggling. “They should look for other ways to protect the local clothing industry. “Clothing flea markets are putting food on the table for thousands of people and we want practical solutions on this issue,” said Ms Matera.
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