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David Chapfika

Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
PEOPLE from Masvingo say they want the 2018 national budget to allocate more funding for student grants and development of rural health facilities.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development, led by Mutoko South MP Mr David Chapfika, met members of the public here yesterday to gather their input ahead of the budget presentation later this year.

Residents who mainly comprised women and students from Great Zimbabwe University and Masvingo Polytechnic said Treasury should avail more social safety nets to cater for the less privileged in society such as orphans, students in tertiary institutions and the elderly.

“We are happy with the turn out here in Masvingo regardless of the fact that there were many women and students from GZU and Masvingo Polytechnic,” said Mr Chapfika. “We are having a good turnout apart from Gweru where we had a few people attending our consultation meeting. In Masvingo the participants are calling for the minister responsible to cater for students’ grants, orphans, health facilities in rural areas. Students want the issue of grants to be addressed as parents are finding it hard to pay fees. The participants also want many health centres and provision of water in the rural areas through borehole drilling.”

Mr Chapfika said the participants also stressed the need for the budget to improve public welfare.

Residents also called for the speedy implementation of Tokwe-Mukosi irrigation and Beitbridge-Harare dualisation projects.

Government has said the dualisation project is expected to commence soon while the issuing of fishing permits and 25 000 hectares irrigation projects at Tokwe-Mukosi Dam awaits the completion of a master plan.

Today the team will meet Beitbridge residents in the morning before moving to Gwanda in the afternoon. Bulawayo and Plumtree will be covered on Thursday.  The programme will end with Victoria Falls on Friday. The committee would collate participants’ contributions and compile a report that would be submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

@walterbmswazie3