By Sharon Tawuya
Bulawayo, (New Ziana)-Calls for Treasury to release funds allocated to the various Ministries on time and in full were loud at the on-going 2027 pre-Budget Seminar in Bulawayo, amid complaints that fractions of allotments were always disbursed.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce Clemence Chiduwa joined the calls on Thursday, lamenting that the late and partial release of budgetary allocations was impacing the growth of the manufacturing sector.
Chiduwa, who is the Member of Parliament for Zaka South Constituency, told the seminar that of the 2026 allocation, only 23 percent had been disbursed, undermining the growth of industry.
“The 2026 allocation for the Bioequivalence Centre has not been released by the Treasury,” he said, adding however that the manufacturing industry has delivered despite tight funding.
“Capacity utilization rose from 57.3 percent to 61.2 percent. Manufacturing contributes 16.2 percent of GDP, commerce 10.8 percent. Manufacturing investment exceeded US$2.5bn. Value-added exports grew 60.7 percent. 15 anchor rural projects were facilitated. But releases are killing those gains,” he said.
Chiduwa said the 2027 budget should strengthen local production, reduce avoidable costs, protect fair competition and give businesses certainty to invest, employ and export.
In response, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu backed the call for Treasury to fund and release allocations, noting that of the ZWG489.867 million allocated to the Ministry for 2026, only 23 percent was disbursed.
He urged the Treasury to disburse at least 90 percent of the vote in quarterly tranches linked to milestones and recapitalization.
“We need predictable quarterly releases. If we allocate on paper and do not release, industry stays at 61 percent capacity,” he said.
Ndlovu said the ZWG78.2m for industrialisation will fund finalisation and launch of the Zimbabwe National Industrialisation Development Policy 2 in all 10 provinces to push manufacturing to at least 20 percent of GDP, implementation of ther Local Content Strategy and six priority value chains, namely cotton-to-clothing, sugarcane-to-beverages, iron ore-to-steel, strategic minerals-to-battery precursors, automotive and pharmaceuticals, plus raising rural anchor projects from 15 to 30.
He said ZWG13 million for consumer protection will fund inspections, labs, border scanners and enforcement against counterfeits and substandard goods, while ZWG19.8m will fix administration and reporting gaps.
New Ziana
