Story by Yolanda Moyo
THE Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, has called for an inclusive and constitutionally compliant approach to national budgeting that accelerates economic transformation in line with Vision 2030.
He was speaking at the 2026 Pre-Budget Seminar, which is underway in Bulawayo under the theme “Enhancing Drivers of Economic Growth and Transformation Towards Vision 2030.”
In his keynote address, Advocate Mudenda underscored the importance of fiscal discipline, innovation, and citizen participation in shaping the national budget to ensure equitable and sustainable development.
He highlighted the urgent need to enhance domestic resource mobilisation to bridge the gap between revenue capacity and expenditure demands, urging policymakers to prioritise the formalisation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Advocate Mudenda also pointed to the adoption of advanced technologies by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), including Artificial Intelligence, predictive analytics, and blockchain systems, as crucial in strengthening tax administration and curbing leakages at border posts.
He further proposed exploring alternative financing models, such as utilising pension and insurance funds for infrastructure development. Currently, utilisation stands at six percent, significantly below the 20 percent legal threshold. Unlocking such domestic capital, he said, would help finance critical projects in the energy, transport, and water sectors, thereby reducing reliance on external borrowing and ensuring fiscal sustainability.
On gender and youth empowerment, the Speaker called for increased capitalisation of the Women’s Bank and the Youth Empowerment Bank, stressing that inclusive budgeting is key to achieving equitable and sustainable national growth.
