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Cde David Chapfika

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
The 2017 National Budget consultations and public hearings in all provinces will begin on Monday with priority areas being agriculture and industry, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development chairman Cde David Chapfika said.

Addressing a Press conference, Cde Chapfika said stakeholders and citizens’ views would be deliberated on and a report presented to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development for consideration in the formulation of the 2017 National Budget.

He said public hearings would be carried out from September 12-17.

“The annual event is held consistent with Section 141, sub-section (a) of the Constitution that requires that “Parliament must facilitate public involvement in its legislative and other processes and the processes of its committees,” he said.

“Stakeholders’ views will be at centre stage but our views are that Zimbabwe is an agro-based economy and we have seen millions of dollars being deployed in the importation of grain, but if we stimulate agriculture, the millions of dollars will be targeted to other sectors of the economy such as the manufacturing sector.”

Cde Chapfika said the committee will be divided into two groups that would move around the provinces.

On Monday, Team A will hold its first public hearing in Mutare while Team B will be at Mucheke Hall in Masvingo.

Tuesday’s public hearings will be held by Team A in Rusape before going to Marondera while Team B will be in Mwenezi.

On Wednesday, Team A will be in Goromonzi at Juru Council Hall and will travel to Harare for another public hearing in the afternoon while Team B will be in Beitbridge at Dulivhadzimu before moving to Gwanda.

Team A will be in Mvurwi on Thursday will move to Bindura at Tendai Hall on the same day while Team B will be in Bulawayo and then Lupane.

Cde Chapfika said they had incorporated three portfolio committees who will be carrying out sector-based consultations including Women Affairs Gender and Community Development .

The Mines and Energy Committee will conduct public hearings in Masvingo on Monday and travel to Gwanda and Kwekwe.

The Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Portfolio Committee will conduct public hearings on Monday in Bindura before proceeding to Gokwe, Kwekwe and Bulawayo.