Public Hearings Monday 23rd to 27th September

2020 NATIONAL BUDGET CONSULTATIONS

The Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development will conduct public hearings around the country on the 2020 National Budget from Monday 23rd September to Friday 27th September 2019.

Two teams from the committee will hold meetings at the places listed in the following tables:

Team A

Team B

Attendance at the Public Hearings

Members of the public, interested groups and organisations are invited to attend these hearings.  meetings and express their views to the portfolio committee members on what the 2020 National Budget should – and should not – contain.  But any person wearing military uniform, signs of rank, flags or badges or political party regalia will not be allowed access to the meetings.

Purpose of the Public Hearings

The Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development, as its name indicates, oversees the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and its handling of Budget matters.

Parliament is bound by the Constitution to consult the public on its Budget processes.  The public hearings are intended to provide an opportunity for members of the public to engage with MPs on the portfolio committee and to explain what they think the 2020 National Budget should – or should not – contain and why.  For instance, citizens may wish to make known to MPs their views on such matters as the income tax threshold, the income tax bands, VAT, the intermediated money transfer tax, customs and excise duties, allocation of funds to Ministries and priority areas for funding, and the measures Government should apply to reduce inflation, price increases, fuel and power shortages, etc.

The information that portfolio committee members gather at the public hearings will enable them, not only to prepare a report for presentation to the National Assembly when the 2020 National Budget is eventually presented to Parliament, but to pass the public’s views on to other MPs public reaction during the other preliminary Parliamentary processes that preceding the Budget presentation.  These processes include the one-day pre-Budget Briefing Seminar and the full pre-Budget Seminar.  The hearings should, therefore, ensure that the views expressed at the hearings by members of the public come to the attention of all MPs.

Written submissions and correspondence are also welcome.  And it may be helpful to the committee if oral submissions made at a meeting are supported or supplemented by written submissions.

Written submissions can be handed in to a Parliamentary official at one of the meetings.  Alternatively, anyone unable to attend a meeting can address his or her written submission or correspondence to:

The Clerk of Parliament

Attention: Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Development

PO Box CY 298

Causeway, Harare, or

deliver it to Parliament at corner Kwame Nkrumah Avenue and Third Street, Harare or

email to clerk@parlzim.gov.zw.

Queries and Further Information

Parliament’s telephone numbers are: (024) 2700181-8, 2252936-50.

Contact persons

Mrs Mataruke (Committee Clerk) :  extension 2062

Sibonisiwe Nkala (Public Relations Officer) : extensions 2310/2143

Fax: (024) 2252935

Veritas makes every effort to ensure reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied.