Finance minister Tendai Biti yesterday unveiled a $4 billion budget, allocating $30 million towards the constitution-making process and conduct of the referendum and a paltry $5 million towards the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and other commissions, with no allotment for the general elections.
Biti said the $5,5 million was meant to strengthen ZEC operations, Zimbabwe Media Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
This allocation, Biti said, was meant to improve human rights relating to political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights.
With the allocation, the constitution-making process looks set to be completed without financial hitches as both Zanu PF and MDC-T Copac co-chairpersons expressed satisfaction with the amount.
Zanu PF co-chairperson Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said: “Since we are almost through with this process, we think it should suffice.
What is left is simply the drafting, second stakeholders’ conference, debate in Parliament and the nation goes for the referendum.”
His counterpart Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T) concurred: “This is a very welcome development.
It shows the sensitivity of minister Biti to this programme. The constitution-making process must be largely funded by the State. This allocation is positive. It comes at a time when we are preparing to draft the constitution.”
