THE two MDC formations are pushing the inclusive government to either withdraw or revise the 2009 National Budget tabled in parliament in January by then acting Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa.
The Finance Bill and Estimates of Expenditure for the year has not been passed by parliament.
Sources in the MDC formations said the parties wanted a new budget to be presented by the Finance minister, Tendai Biti.
The 2009 budget is the top priority item on parliament’s order paper to be debated in the coming weeks.
A source within the MDC faction said his party would not support the passage of the budget in parliament as they felt that it was “anti-people and anti-progress”.
“The budget presented by Chinamasa is unrealistic and it will be revised,” the source said. “The majority of provisions in the budget do not take into account the prevailing situation on the ground, so we will not support the budget in parliament.”
The revised Finance Bill and Estimates of Expenditure would need to cater for the additional ministries which came on board after the formation of the inclusive government on February 13.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Edwin Mushoriwa, the MDC spokesperson, said the party wanted both the budget and the monetary policy reviewed.
“What is clear is that the budget and the monetary policy were done prior to the coming in of the new government and as a result there are a number of things that need to be reviewed,” Mushoriwa said.He added that there was need for the new cabinet to critically assess the budget.
BY LOUGHTY DUBE
