Clemence Manyukwe, Political Editor
THE inclusive government has so far failed to deliver according to people’s expectations, lawmakers from the three governing parties said during a debate on the Mid-Term fiscal policy statement presented in Parliament last week. Presenting the Parliamentary Budget Committee report in the House of Assembly, committee chairperson, Paddy Zhanda, who is also ZANU-PF’s Goromonzi North lawmaker, said the committee’s criticism was not centred on Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, but applied to government as a whole.
The legislator said Biti had not consulted or presented to the Budget Committee government accounts on a half yearly basis in violation of the Public Finance Management Act.
“Our government has not performed, it has not delivered. They are preoccupied with politics rather than being occupied with the good of us as Zimbabweans. I think we should leave politics aside and deal with the issues confronting the general people,” said Zhanda.
The lawmaker, who is also a ZANU-PF central committee member added that in last year’s Mid–Term fiscal review, the Finance Minister talked about the need to compensate people affected by demonitisation through loss of the local currency in bank accounts, but has not made any public statement on the matter ever since. Zhanda added that in view of that silence, the Budget Committee wrote to Biti seeking clarification on the issue.
“The minister told us that it was going to be treated as part of the RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) debt. As a committee, we are concerned because the people affected are the voiceless, the marginalised poor people who were not negotiated with when this issue did occur,” said Zhanda.
He added that the Parliamentary committee was also concerned about the fact that the Finance Minister has not given specifics on the recapitalisation of the central bank.
“It is important that the issue of RBZ capitalisation be addressed. Yes, we do not live for yesterday, we live for tomorrow,” he said.
In another presentation to Parliament, the chairperson of the august House’s committee on State Enterprises and Parastatals, Larry Mavhima, said at the moment some companies were being allowed transfer up to US$1,5 million outside the country without government approval, thereby prejudicing the country.
Mavima, who is also ZANU-PF’s Zvishavane-Runde Member of Parliament appealed to Biti to convene a meeting with the central bank to halt the trend.
In response, the Finance Minister agreed that the country was being held back by partisan interests as ZANU-PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change formations have failed to put the country first.
Biti added that debate on national issues such as the indigenisation regulations, the issue of land title deeds or Chiadzwa diamonds has been clouded by partisan politics.
“We have not put the national interest on the fore front. We have put the interests of politics and I wish they were even genuine interests of politics but they are narrow, parochial, partisan, sectional and factional interests,” said Biti.
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written by chatikobo, July 30, 2010
written by chatikobo, July 30, 2010
Its better than what it was in 2008 gore rezhara huru huru! But in shona tingangoti inzvisa chete chete! They only showed that thingz can improve if people are serious about it or are reluctant to do so because of cheap politics of trying to get credit for the improvement.
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written by zulu, July 27, 2010
written by zulu, July 27, 2010
The fundamental issue for success in this case does not rest on the ministers but on the people of the country. If we have expectations that are beyond the capabilities of our leaders and we do not stand by them for support then yes they will fail.How many of us rallied behind GNU---very few ,as we are all not so sure of the success of these boys.I am sure if everyone was behind GNU then we could have seen a lot of progress as we would be putting pressure on them to do m*re.(i am sure even the princ**als would have gone a step further in implimenting the agreed issues).The moment we cast doubt then we bring in doubts.The moment there is doubt then the less we are to support the point.So i throw the ball back to the MPs who failed to buy the idea of GNU and sell it to the people.Them MPs should have bought the idea and promote it to the people.As long as the people buy it then we should have success.Most issues to be honest with you require faith and trust then we can move on.How can we have faith when we have no idea when our own currency will be back on the table.We are now using a c**ktail of currencies to do business and that just reduces level of trust.Get the MPs to support GNU and let them move around preaching the gospel according to GNU and lets see what happens.
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written by Dhiziri pachinhoyi, July 26, 2010
written by Dhiziri pachinhoyi, July 26, 2010
Coalition is a collision do not expect much. I thought you knew Zhanda.
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Imagine with all the diamonds from marange being channeled into the national coffers its a matter of 6months.A good case study on diamonds bringing stability and growth to a country is Botswana and mind you theirs is diamond only and not like us who have almost all the minerals you can name.
Tipeiwo maserious plse