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Diana Nherera Herald Reporter
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development has been unable to undertake its programmes since the beginning of the year as Treasury has so far released only $310 193 out of an approved budget of $6,550 million.

Permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Perpetua Gumbo said this while presenting oral evidence to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development in Parliament yesterday.

“The amount that the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development has received from Treasury is only 5 percent of the 2015 approved budget.

“Monitoring and evaluation of projects continue to suffer due to unavailability of vehicles as the ones that are in the ministry’s pool are in a deteriorated state and need major services which currently cannot be undertaken as no funds have been availed by Treasury,” said Dr Gumbo.

She said the ministry remained optimistic that they would receive funds to carry out programmes.

“Expenditure to date should be at 50 percent of the approved annual budget but since it is still at 5 percent, it is doubtful whether the ministry will get all the remaining funds to pursue its mandate,” said Dr Gumbo.

She said Ministry had explained its requirements to development partners such as the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and the corporate world.

“The two developmental partners funded projects amounting to $211 993 during the first and second quarter of 2015. The UNFPA’s support to gender-based violence programmes amounts to $124 643 while UNDP’s support to various programmes totals $87 350,” said Dr Gumbo.