CCC MPs strongly reject 'betting, pizza budget'

Opposition legislators have strongly rejected Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube's 2025 national budget, criticizing it for failing to address the country's pressing economic challenges. Ncube unveiled a ZiG276.4 billion budget at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, but critics argue that it lacks substantial measures for economic recovery and offers little relief to Zimbabweans grappling with hardships.

Dzivarasekwa legislator Edwin Mushoriwa was particularly vocal in his criticism, describing the budget as a "betting and plastic budget" that neglects the key economic fundamentals affecting the nation. He argued that the government is technically bankrupt and that Ncube's assumptions on inflation and exchange rates are unrealistic, leading to a budget that is destined to fail.

"The minister failed to acknowledge the fact that the government is technically broke at the time he was presenting the budget, implying that the fundamentals in the previous budget were flawed," Mushoriwa stated. He also pointed out that over the past five years, there has been a disconnect between the budgets presented and the actual disbursements, which undermines confidence in the current budget.

Mushoriwa criticized Ncube for merely adhering to constitutional provisions without ensuring that the actual disbursements match the proposed allocations, further exacerbating the country's economic woes.

Mbizo legislator Cobarn Madzivanyika echoed similar concerns, claiming that more than 60% of the budget allocations were directed to non-productive sectors. He expressed disappointment that the government failed to address the ongoing energy crisis, noting that the Energy ministry had been allocated just ZiG259 million, an amount he deemed insufficient to resolve the country's power shortages.

Marondera legislator Caston Matewu also questioned the government's ability to fulfill the 2025 budget, given its failure to meet the previous year's budget targets. Matewu expressed concerns over Ncube's tax policies, which he argued negatively impact the industries that drive economic growth.

In his budget statement, Ncube acknowledged the broader economic challenges facing Africa, noting that high borrowing costs were affecting GDP growth across the continent. He highlighted that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region's GDP growth was projected at 2% due to the El Niño-induced drought, while Zimbabwe's economic growth was forecasted to reach 6% due to favorable weather conditions.

Despite these challenges, Ncube projected Zimbabwe as one of the fastest-growing economies in the region for the forthcoming fiscal year. He also reported that foreign currency receipts had increased by 17% to US$10 billion, and he claimed that prices for goods and services had remained stable following the introduction of the ZiG currency in April.

The budget proposals included allocations for key sectors such as ZiG22.9 billion for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, ZiG4.9 billion for the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, and ZiG28.3 billion for the Ministry of Health and Child Care. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was allocated ZiG46.6 billion, while the Peace and Security sector received ZiG38.6 billion. Other ministries, including Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade, received ZiG5.6 billion and ZiG4 billion, respectively.

Despite these allocations, the opposition remains skeptical of the government's ability to implement the budget effectively, with critics asserting that the focus should be on addressing the immediate economic crises facing Zimbabweans, such as inflation, unemployment, and infrastructure deficits.