PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ON THE 2018 NATIONAL BUDGET
It is that time of the year again when Parliament engages the public to get their views on the ensuing year’s budget. The consultations are meant to provide the citizens of this country an opportunity to say what they feel should be the priorities for the following year’s budget. The consultations are a feature that Parliament introduced as part of the reforms meant to involve the public in issues that affect them. The practice has since been codified in the Constitution in Section 141 and the Public Finance Management Act Section 28 (5).
I know for a lot of citizens the question is whether their views are seriously taken into account. My answer is an emphatic yes. Perhaps let me indicate that like in all consultations the Portfolio Committees will receive a lot of input from the public. Some of the input will definitely be contradictory depending on who is making the submissions. This is as it should be as there are various interests amongst the participants at the hearings. The Committees will then sift through all the submissions and make recommendations to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development at the Pre-Budget Seminar held well in advance of Budget presentation. In my Blog article dated 28 February I went to great lengths to show how Parliament, through its Committees, had managed to influence the 2017 Budget. Indeed, all this was all down to the extensive consultations that had been carried out by the various Committees of Parliament.
It is in this vein that we are once again appealing to the citizens of Zimbabwe to have their voices heard in the 2018 Budget. Below I attach the schedule of the Public Hearings by the Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development.
PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS
2018 NATIONAL BUDGET CONSULTATIONS BY THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Team A
| Date | Place | Venue | Time of Public Hearing |
| 2 October 2017 | Kariba
Chinhoyi |
Nyaminyami RDC Boardroom, Siakobvu
Cooksey Memorial Hall |
0900hrs
1400hrs |
| 3 October 2017 | Bindura
Mt Darwin |
HALA Africa Hotel
Mt Darwin Sports Club |
0900hrs
1400hrs |
| 4 October 2017 | Harare
Chivhu |
Holiday Inn Hotel
Chivhu Jubilee Hall |
0900hrs
1400hrs |
| 5 October 2017 | Marondera | Hope/Fay Hotel and Conference Centre | 0900hrs |
| 6 October 2017 | Nyanga
Mutare |
Nyanga Rural District Council Offices
Mutare Holiday Inn Hotel |
0900hrs
1400hrs |
Team B
| Date | Place | Venue | Time of Public Hearing |
| 2 October 2017 | Gweru
Zvishavane |
Fairmile Hotel
Zvishavane Council Offices |
0900hrs
1400hrs |
| 3 October 2017 | Gutu
Masvingo |
Gutu Council Offices
Flamboyant Hotel |
0900hrs
1400hrs |
| 4 October 2017 | Beitbridge
Gwanda |
Peter’s Motel
Gwanda Hotel |
0900hrs
1400hrs |
| 5 October 2017 | Bulawayo
Lupane |
Holiday Inn Hotel
Lupane Council Hall |
0900hrs
1400hrs |
| 6 October 2017 | Victoria Falls | Chinotimba Hall | 0900hrs |
ALL THOSE WHO WILL BE PUTTING ON MILITARY UNIFORMS, SIGNS OF RANKS, FLAGS OR BADGES AND POLITICAL PARTY REGALIA WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
The public, interested groups and organizations are invited to attend these consultations. Written submissions and correspondences are welcome and should be addressed to:
The Clerk of Parliament
Attention: Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development
P.O. Box CY 298
Causeway
Harare
Submissions can also be made by email through email address clerk@parlzim.gov.zw
Telephone: (04) 700181-8, 252936-50
Christian Ratsakatika / Mrs N. Khumalo (Committee Clerks) Ext. 2050
Linda Tanyaradzwa Manyemba / Maguire Mike Godzongere (Public Relations Officers)
Fax: (04)252935