GUTU – The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, in partnership with the Parliament Budget Office and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, on Wednesday held the National Budget Education and Consultation Outreach Programme in Gutu District as part of efforts to gather public input for the 2027 National Budget.
Held under the theme, “Your Voice, Your Budget, Your Future,” the outreach programme attracted residents, business representatives, traditional leaders, local authorities and officials from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The Gutu meeting follows the inaugural consultation session held in Chivi District.
Participants welcomed the platform, describing it as an important step towards improving transparency, accountability and citizen participation in national budget formulation.
During the consultations, delegates emphasised the need for inclusive development, calling for the greater integration of women, youth and persons with disabilities into national economic planning.
Participants also renewed calls for vocational training centres specifically designed to cater for persons with disabilities, echoing concerns raised during earlier consultations in Chivi.
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Residents acknowledged the prevailing macroeconomic stability but urged Government to accelerate infrastructure development, digitalisation and financial inclusion initiatives. Some participants proposed the establishment of bureaux de change in rural areas to improve access to foreign currency through official channels.
Among the key priorities raised by community members were the commercialisation of dams for irrigation and fisheries projects, construction of composite Government offices, establishment of financial institutions and business centres, road rehabilitation, hospital upgrades and improved access to medical personnel.
Delegates also called for free healthcare services for persons with disabilities, additional vocational training facilities, timely disbursement of funds for community projects and the upgrading of Gutu Clinic into a fully equipped referral hospital.
Small and medium enterprises appealed for lower interest rates and simplified loan application processes, while several participants urged Government to prioritise climate change adaptation measures in future national budgets.
Officials said the outreach programme seeks to ensure that citizens directly contribute to the country’s fiscal priorities.
“The insights gathered from communities will play an important role in informing the formulation of the 2027 National Budget,” officials said during the consultations.
The nationwide outreach programme is expected to continue in other provinces as Government seeks to incorporate grassroots perspectives into economic planning and strengthen participatory governance.
Local leaders described the initiative as a significant step towards inclusive development, saying communities should be active contributors to policy formulation rather than merely recipients of Government programmes.
