Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
PARLIAMENTARIANS will gather in Bulawayo from Wednesday for a four-day Pre-Budget Seminar to deliberate on policy measures, sectoral priorities and funding requirements to inform the formulation of the 2027 National Budget.
The seminar, scheduled for October 28 to 31 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Grounds, will bring together Government ministries and Parliamentary Portfolio Committees to examine proposed programmes and make recommendations ahead of the budget presentation on November 19.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, in a video posted by Parliament of Zimbabwe, said the retreat was part of the budget preparation process.
“The theme for the 2027 National Budget is Accelerating Economic Transformation and Building Resilience to Climate Shocks and Global Shocks. I will be presenting this budget to Parliament on the 19th of November next month,” he said.
“But as part of the budgetary preparation process, there is need for members of Parliament to have a retreat, usually it takes four days, and this retreat is taking place in Bulawayo this year.”
Prof Ncube said the discussions would draw on issues raised during public consultations conducted by the Committee on Budget and Finance, other parliamentary committees and Members of Parliament.
“The retreat will consider many things arising from consultations from the public. The Committee on Budget and Finance has been consulting with the public, the various committees have been consulting with the public, and also consulting with the various members of Parliament,” he said.
He said the retreat would provide an opportunity for legislators to discuss how public resources should be allocated to support Government departments and programmes.
“So the retreat by members of Parliament is to have a discussion on the budget allocations, priority areas, and revenue measures to support the various government departments and the various programmes of government,” he said.
The seminar forms part of Parliament’s budget oversight and consultation processes, providing a platform for legislators and Government ministries to assess sector-specific funding needs and identify development priorities.
The deliberations are expected to inform recommendations on the allocation of public resources in line with the country’s development priorities as the Government prepares the 2027 National Budget.
