Biti only made a budget for a referendum, not for an election. His move comes days after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission submitted a $220 million budget to Treasury for both the referendum and general elections.
ZEC deputy chairperson, Joyce Kazembe, requested $104 million to cover the referendum while $115 million was needed to fund the general elections.
“To facilitate adoption and approval of the new Constitution, which is currently at its finalisation stage, I am proposing to allocate $30 million towards completion of the Constitution making process and conduct of the referendum,” Biti said.
The minister also allocated funds for constitutional commissions.
“To improve human rights relating to political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights, I propose to allocate $5.5 million towards strengthening the operations of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Zimbabwe Media Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission,” Biti said.
President Robert Mugabe has insisted that fresh polls be held in early 2012 and lashed out at his rivals for allegedly stalling the process to write a new constitution.
Post published in: News