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‘Act needs gender responsive budgeting’

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THE Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) needs to be aligned to the Constitution, as it is not gender sensitive, an expert has said.

THE Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) needs to be aligned to the Constitution, as it is not gender sensitive, an expert has said.

BY VICTORIA MTOMBA

Speaking at a consultative workshop on the draft Public Finance Management Amendment Bill in Harare yesterday, technical expert, Onai Muvingi said the PFMA was neither informed by the principles provided for in section 298 of the Constitution nor does it have a gender sensitive provision.

“Amend relevant sections and incorporate provisions that promote principles such as gender responsive budgeting and elimination of discrimination against women. Amend section 4 of the PFM Act and incorporate provisions that extened the scope of application of the Act to provincial and metropolitan councils as well as local authorities,” she said.

Muvingi said while section 299 of the Constitution has an oversight on State revenues and expenditure so that all revenues are accounted for, the findings were that the provisions were in conflict with the Supreme Law, as it excludes the metropolitan councils.

She said the constitutional provisions of section 302 of the Constitution are dealt with in section 16 and section 18 of the PFM Act. Section 16 of the PFM Act is aligned to the Constitution, as it states that all revenues, with the exception of section 18(9) shall be paid into the consolidated revenue fund.

There is, however, need to cross-reference the provisions of section 16 of the PFM Act, with the provisions of section 15 of the Public Debt Management Act, she said.

Ministry of Finance acting accounting officer, Edwin Zvandasara said the workshop was aimed at getting input from stakeholders into the new Bill and align the PFMA to the Constitution.

He said a revised draft and draft principles would be presented to the appropriate government department.

“We will be going to Bulawayo for the consultative process soon to get input from stakeholders from there and, thereafter, we would add the input. We do not have a time frame on when we will take the draft principles,” Zvandasara said.