Timothy Khupe

Tshitshi, Mangwe District – The National Budget consultations conducted by the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance, and Investment Promotion were successfully held at Tshitshi, Mangwe District, Matabeleland South on the 8th of October 2024 with a large attendance by the public. Hon. Albert Nguluvhe, Acting Chairperson of the Budget, Finance, and Investment Promotion Portfolio Committee, led the introductions before handing chairing duty to Hon. MP Vincent Sihlabo.

Hon. MP Vincent Sihlabo explained the purpose of the committee was to collect information from the community as to how the government ought to use the revenue they receive from them. He further advised that the public is able to advise and comment on ways of revenue collection that are non-burdensome to the community so the government can fulfill its tasks as mandated by them.

He emphasised that section 141 of the National Constitution compels the government to make consultations with the public on government revenue collections and expenditures. The panel was then opened for submissions. An iterated submission was concerning the health sector that hospitals and clinics ought to be easily accessible with reference to good roads leading to them.

Furthermore, they should be capacitated with sufficient staff, medicines, and materials. It was also submitted that the Health sector ought to quickly and easily receive funds that have been budgeted and designated for it. Other submissions included more funding for social protection areas such as BEAM, reduction of high taxes through various levies and tax heads upon an individual, capacitation of parliamentarians through increased funding so they can do their duties and giving regular feedback to their constituencies with wider distribution of hansards.

Investment into special cattle breed production and restoration of CSC, investment into methods of capturing and storing more water, building more schools, and incentivizing use of border to deter smuggling were some of the critical issues raised.