Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Tsholotsho
POOR road infrastructure and inadequate health services dominated discussions during the 2026 national budget public consultations held in Tsholotsho District, Matabeleland North, as residents urged the Government to prioritise funding for road rehabilitation and the health sector.
The consultations, conducted by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Investment Promotion at Tsholotsho Business Centre on Tuesday, attracted hundreds of participants from across the district.
Residents expressed concern that the deteriorating road network has not only disrupted business activity but also increased transport costs and discouraged potential investors.
“We have a very poor road network in our district, and this has made life and doing business here very expensive. There is a need for the Government to allocate a substantial amount towards rehabilitating our roads,” said Mr Lebohang Mathema, one of the participants.
His sentiments were echoed by several others, prompting committee member Mail Nkomo, who chaired the proceedings, to encourage delegates to submit diverse proposals to inform the upcoming national budget.
Ms Providence Moyo from Ward 7 urged the Government to also focus on improving health delivery services, noting that most clinics were either under-equipped or lacked essential medicines.
“Our clinics are too few, and where there is one, there’s usually a shortage of medication. This puts our lives at risk,” she said.
Committee chairperson Cde Tinashe Mushipe said he was impressed by the turnout and the depth of contributions from the public. He noted that the feedback would be instrumental in shaping national budget priorities.
“There were many contributions and very good ideas came out. The most topical issues were around infrastructure development, particularly road networks and health services, both here in Tsholotsho and across the country,” he said.
Cde Mushipe emphasised that the purpose of the consultations was to ensure the budget reflects the people’s priorities, in line with Section 141 of the Constitution, which mandates public involvement in all parliamentary processes.
“The national budget is people-centred. We are here to get insights and inputs from citizens on what they think should be prioritised in the 2026 National Budget,” he said.
Public consultations on the 2026 National Budget are currently being held across the country as Parliament gathers input from citizens ahead of the budget presentation by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, expected later this year.
Parliament plays a key role in reviewing and approving the national budget, which guides Government expenditure and policy direction.
Cde Mushipe revealed that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to grow by five percent in 2026, with an anticipated ZWG309 billion in revenue against a projected expenditure of ZWG335 billion.
