×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Speaker demands Parly recognition in Budget

News
The Speaker of the House of Assembly Lovemore Moyo has demanded the 2012 National Budget should respect the institution of Parliament and treat it as one of the three arms of government and not as a government department. He said this while addressing delegates at the pre-budget seminar for MPs held recently in Victoria Falls. […]

The Speaker of the House of Assembly Lovemore Moyo has demanded the 2012 National Budget should respect the institution of Parliament and treat it as one of the three arms of government and not as a government department.

He said this while addressing delegates at the pre-budget seminar for MPs held recently in Victoria Falls.

Moyo said he had been saddened by the fact that previous national budgets had often cut Parliament’s projected budgets by more than 50%, a move which resulted in its failure to perform important duties.

“Parliament has been treated like a government department in previous budgets – firstly by having its projected annual budgets cut by more than 50%, then by being made to queue for those cut funds at Treasury with ministries,” said Moyo.

“These budget cuts are made without consulting Parliament, yet Parliament is not a government department, but an arm of government and it has activities that are important in delivering on its constitutional mandates of executive oversight, representation and legislating,” he said.

He said since Treasury had failed to adequately fund Parliament, the institution had heavily depended on support by development partners.

The Speaker raised these concerns at a time when government had also been failing – since 2008 – to pay sitting allowances for MPs.

Meanwhile, Parliament yesterday confirmed the 2012 National Budget would be announced next Tuesday by Finance minister Tendai Biti.

The budget formulation processes kicked off months ago with public consultation by the Finance minister to get views from Zimbabweans.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Investment Promotion chaired by Goromonzi MP Paddy Zhanda also conducted its own nationwide budget consultations.