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Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development today begins nationwide public consultations on the 2019 national budget.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube is expected to present the upcoming fiscal policy statement at the end of next month.

According to Parliament, two teams will conduct the public hearings in different areas starting with Kariba, Chinhoyi, Kwekwe and Gweru today.

The Portfolio Committee will be at Bulawayo Rainbow tomorrow morning as well as Bindura and Mt Darwin in Mashonaland Central.

On Wednesday, the public consultations will be taken to Chinotimba Hall in Victoria Falls in the morning, Hwange in the afternoon, Chivhu and Masvingo at the Civic Centre.

On Thursday, the Portfolio Committee is expected to be in Gwanda (Gwanda Hotel) in the morning as well as in Gutu (Bikita Rural District Council boardroom) in the morning and in Mutare at Sakubva Hall in the afternoon.

On Friday, the team will be in Beitbridge (Vembe Seconday School) in the morning, Marondera (Mbuya Nehanda Hall) in the morning and Harare (New Ambassador Hotel) in the afternoon.

The public hearings, which seek to strengthen Parliament and citizens’ role in the formulation of the national budget, are conducted every year in fulfillment of section 28 (5) of the Public Finance Management Act.

The Act states, “the minister may, through the appropriate portfolio committee of Parliament, seek the views of Parliament in the preparation and formulation of the annual budget, for which purpose the appropriate portfolio committee shall conduct public hearings to elicit the opinions of as many stakeholders in the national budget as possible”.

The provision is also in line with section 13 of the Constitution, which compels the State to involve the people in the formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes that affect them.

The public consultations on the 2019 national budget come at a time when Prof Ncube early this month unveiled the Transitional Stabilisation Programme which sets the tone for the attainment of a middle-income economy by 2030.

Under President Mnangagwa’s administration, the country has come up with Vision 2030 through which the Government desires to transform the citizens’ living standards by ensuring that they have decent jobs by 2030.

Job creation was at the centre of the Zanu-PF election campaign manifesto for the July 30 harmonised polls, together with plans to re-engage the international community, fighting corruption, uniting the nation and fostering development.

Through Vision 2030, the Government also wants to achieve a middle-income economy with per capita income approaching $3 500 per person. — @okazunga