News / National
Chinamasa now a government wages clerk - PDP
30 Nov 2015 at 11:18hrs | Views
Finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa has been described as a ‘wages clerk' as the government salary bill for 2016 will be $3, 919 billion.
Last week, Chinamasa presented a $4 billion 2016 national with the People's Democratic Party saying it's a reflective of the cluelessness, inability and incompetence on the part of the Zanu PF government in running this economy.
In a statement, PDP spokesperson for Economic Affairs, Settlement Chikwinya said instead of presenting a pro-poor budget to cushion Zimbabweans from the current harsh economic environment, the 2016 budget makes sad reading as it will leave more Zimbabweans in worse economic, political and social situations than they were in 2015.
"In his $4 billion budget, Chinamasa has once again turned himself into a wages clerk as the government salary bill for 2016 will be $3, 919 billion, leaving him with very little to disburse for social services and infrastructural development as revenue collection is also set to drastically shrink.
"As the PDP, we also note with concern that the government continues to employ ghost workers especially in the ministry of youth development as the civil service employment figures reveal that 276,000 civil servants were employed in 2014, which is a jump of 36 percent from 203,000 in 2009.
"As the country is already feeling the effects of the El Nino weather conditions, it is also shocking that Chinamasa ignores to put in place mechanisms to mitigate the effects of the drought and the poor harvests that are to be expected next year".
Chikwinya added that it is highly regrettable that Zimbabweans should expect a tougher 2016, as the budget is characterized by severe job cuts, cash crunch and drought due to El Nino.
"The budget does not offer an economic stimulus to ensure recovery and sustainable growth.
"The budget is unrealistic and revenue targets expected by Chinamasa in 2016 will not be achieved thereby widening the budget deficit".
Last week, Chinamasa presented a $4 billion 2016 national with the People's Democratic Party saying it's a reflective of the cluelessness, inability and incompetence on the part of the Zanu PF government in running this economy.
In a statement, PDP spokesperson for Economic Affairs, Settlement Chikwinya said instead of presenting a pro-poor budget to cushion Zimbabweans from the current harsh economic environment, the 2016 budget makes sad reading as it will leave more Zimbabweans in worse economic, political and social situations than they were in 2015.
"In his $4 billion budget, Chinamasa has once again turned himself into a wages clerk as the government salary bill for 2016 will be $3, 919 billion, leaving him with very little to disburse for social services and infrastructural development as revenue collection is also set to drastically shrink.
"As the country is already feeling the effects of the El Nino weather conditions, it is also shocking that Chinamasa ignores to put in place mechanisms to mitigate the effects of the drought and the poor harvests that are to be expected next year".
Chikwinya added that it is highly regrettable that Zimbabweans should expect a tougher 2016, as the budget is characterized by severe job cuts, cash crunch and drought due to El Nino.
"The budget does not offer an economic stimulus to ensure recovery and sustainable growth.
"The budget is unrealistic and revenue targets expected by Chinamasa in 2016 will not be achieved thereby widening the budget deficit".
Source - Byo24News
