Treasury kick-starts 2025 National Budget consultations

Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]

THE Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion has called for public input towards the crafting of the 2025 National Budget as it prepares to roll out wider national consultations with different stakeholders.

Treasury has already issued the 2025 Budget Strategy Paper, which outlines Government’s financial goals, objectives, and strategies for achieving them.

The strategy paper provides a framework for making budget decisions and ensures that everyone involved in the budget process is working towards the same objectives.

The 2025 Budget Strategy Paper (BSP) is being issued to communicate Government fiscal policy direction stakeholders that include citizens, private sector, labour and development partners.

It is meant to enhance understanding on Government policies and programmes and how distribution of national resources will be prioritised.

The Government has committed to broadening stakeholder participation and rebuilding public trust in the budget. This ensures that every citizen contributes to how resources raised through taxes are being deployed to grow the economy and provide the critical public services that support the goal of a strong society.

In a latest update, the Treasury’s communications and advocacy acting deputy director, Ms Nobukhosi Mzimkhulu, said the issuance of the 2025 Budget Strategy paper on the 25th of July successfully marked the commencement of the formulation of the 2025 national budget.

She said the BSP provides the preliminary policy priorities and the guiding line for the fiscal framework to facilitate discussion and consultation on the actual 2025 national budget.

“It’s a legal requirement for the Minister of Finance to consult the general public in the formulation of the national budget in line with the Public Finance Management Regulation S.I. 135 of 19,” said Ms Mzimkhulu.

“As such, the ministry is requesting for your input into this important document, clearly outlining key policy priorities and programmes or projects, necessary for the effective implementation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1).”

The general public has been advised to forward their contributions through the ministry’s electronic (e) mail on or before the 15th of October 2024. The 2025 BSP identified nine pillars derived from NDS 1 as priority areas in 2025.

These are economic growth and macro-stability, supporting productive value chains, infrastructure, ICTSs and the digital economy, youth, sport, arts and culture, women, gender equity, SMEs and veterans of the liberation struggle, devolution and decentralisation, human capital development, well-being and innovation, effective institution building and governance and image building, engagement and re-engagement.

Zimbabwe continues to improve its global ranking in terms of openness in budgetary processes and was ranked 30 out of 125 countries in 2023, up from 41.

The survey is carried out by the International Budget Partnership, an organisation that advocates transparency in the formulation and implementation of national budgets. — @SikhulekelaniM1.

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