Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
TREASURY has clarified that the reported 143 percent budget utilisation under the Vote of the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), does not represent a spending spree neither does it constitute operational expenditure by office but reflects a deliberate approach to centrally managing selected strategic national programmes and projects through the OPC.
In a statement on Friday, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube dismissed as mischievous and misleading reports linking the budget utilisation to an unauthorised expenditure or a budget overrun by the Office.
He said they have noted public interest in the Budget Utilisation Report presented as part of the 2026 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review Statement, particularly the reported 143 percent budget utilisation under the Vote of OPC as of 30 June 2026.
“The ministry wishes to clarify that this does not constitute operational expenditure by the OPC, nor does it constitute unauthorised expenditure or a budget overrun by the Office.
“The reported budget utilisation reflects the Government’s deliberate approach to centrally managing selected strategic national programmes and projects through the Office of the President and Cabinet,” he said.
“This arrangement enables the Government to coordinate the implementation of cross-cutting programmes, accelerate project execution, strengthen oversight and achieve greater efficiency in the utilisation of public resources across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).”
He said the expenditure aligns with strategic national priorities that benefit multiple sectors of Government.
The minister said these include refurbishing and upgrading hospitals, implementing national social protection programmes, interventions supporting the education and agricultural sectors, digital economy projects as well as centralised capacitation of Government Departments among other critical development initiatives.
“The centralised implementation of these programs enables Government to improve coordination, optimise resource allocation and ensure the timely delivery of priority national projects.
“Accordingly, expenditure incurred under these centrally managed programmes is initially recorded under the Vote of the OPC and then reallocated to the respective beneficiary Ministries, Departments, and Agencies through the appropriate budgetary and accounting processes,” he added.
Prof Ncube said Government remains firmly committed to fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
He said all expenditure is undertaken within the framework of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Public Finance
Management Act and the Appropriation Act, and remains subject to Treasury oversight, internal controls, audit and Parliamentary scrutiny.
“The Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review further demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to prudent fiscal management. In the first half of 2026, total revenue totalled ZiG137,8 billion, while total expenditure and net lending totalled ZiG123,6 billion, resulting in a budget surplus of ZiG14,2 billion,” he said.
The minister said the ministry therefore urges members of the public, the media and all stakeholders to interpret the reported budget utilisation under the Vote of the OPC within the broader context of the Government’s budget execution and public financial management processes.
He said the reported expenditure should not be construed as expenditure solely attributable to the operations of the OPC but rather as expenditure related to centrally managed national programmes that will, in due course, be reallocated to the respective beneficiary MDAs.
“Reference to a “spending spree” in some media reports is therefore inaccurate and misleading, if not mischievous and was never mentioned in the Minister of Finance’s Statement.
“The ministry remains committed to upholding the principles of sound public financial management and to providing timely, accurate and transparent information on the management of public resources,” added the minister.
