Speaker Mudenda calls for better budget utilisation

SPEAKER of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has raised concerns about the underutilisation of budget allocations, particularly in sectors critical for essential services and development programmes.

Addressing delegates during an ongoing pre-budget seminar for the 2025 National Budget in Bulawayo yesterday, Adv Mudenda said budget allocation is a cornerstone of governance, dictating how resources are distributed across ministries, Government agencies, and departments.

He highlighted the urgent need for timely disbursement and effective utilisation of allocated funds to ensure public service delivery and overall economic development.

Adv Mudenda said the mid-term budget and economic review revealed that between January and June 2024, only 44,2 percent of the approved budget allocations were utilised by ministries, departments, and Government agencies. Notably, nine votes managed to expend more than 50 percent of their allocations.

“While it is acknowledged that there are various pressures on the Treasury, it is essential that allocated funds are disbursed timeously to allow ministries, departments and agencies of Government to fulfil their mandates,” he said.

Adv Mudenda further noted that since 2025 marks the final year of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), Parliament must intensify its oversight role to ensure that funds are promptly disbursed to support projects that are key to achieving Vision 2030.

The Speaker of Parliament stressed the importance of a symbiotic relationship between monetary and fiscal policies in shaping the 2025 National Budget, which he said should serve as a cutting-edge tool for driving economic growth and macro-economic stability.

He said the concept of pre-budget seminars underpins Parliament’s compelling desire to share synergies with the executive in the budgetary democratic processes that should result in a people-centred budget for the ensuing year.

“By providing such a platform for diverse stakeholders to contribute to the budget-making process, these seminars ensure that the budget is more attuned to the needs and aspirations of the people in the spirit of inclusive perspectives to ensure that these pre-budget seminars are not merely annual rituals of trodden practice,” said Adv Mudenda.

He invoked biblical principles of budgeting and stewardship, referencing Luke 14:28: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”

Drawing from this, he compared the national budget process to the construction of “Zimbabwe’s tower,” urging robust domestic resource mobilisation efforts to ensure sustainable financing.

Adv Mudenda also called for tapping into dormant funds in insurance and pension schemes, which he said contain millions of dollars that could be used to finance the 2025 budget.

He emphasised that budget planning must align with the country’s constitutional imperatives of fostering development at all levels.

“The State and all institutions and agencies of Government must actively promote rapid and equitable development by encouraging private initiatives and self-reliance. This includes fostering advancements in agriculture, commerce, industry, and science,” said Adv Mudenda.

He highlighted that the Government’s social protection framework, as outlined in the 2025 budget strategy paper, is geared towards reducing extreme poverty and empowering vulnerable households.

“This includes building resilience for groups such as the elderly, children in need of care, people with disabilities, and the chronically ill,” he said.

He underscored Parliament’s critical role in ensuring financial accountability, referencing Section 299 of the Constitution and Standing Order No. 21 (a) of the National Assembly, which mandates Parliament to monitor and oversee Government expenditure.

“The State and all institutions and agencies of Government at every level must endeavour to facilitate rapid and equitable development, and in particular must take measures to promote private initiative and self-reliance. They must foster agricultural, commercial, industrial, technological and scientific development,” he said.

“This ensures that all revenue is accounted for, all expenditure is justified, and that appropriation limits and conditions are respected.”

Adv Mudenda praised line ministries for their improved submission of monthly and quarterly budget performance reports, while also commending select committees for enhancing their oversight role in the management of public finances.

However, he noted that some committees still find these tasks daunting.

“The liaison and coordinating committee must assert its authority to ensure improved performance by these select committees. Going forward, all Government entities should strive for clean and unqualified audits from the Auditor-General,” Adv Mudenda said.

The pre-budget seminar provides a platform for stakeholders to contribute to the budget-making process, ensuring that the 2025 budget is aligned with national priorities and the collective aspirations of Zimbabweans.