Parly unhappy with Mines budget allocation
Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development members yesterday expressed disappointment with the paltry $12,9 billion 2023 allocated to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development (MMMD) by the Finance Ministry for the 2023 financial year.
Sophia Takuva
The MMMD initially requested $53 billion but only received 20% of the total.
In his statement to members of Parliament MMMD, Permanent Secretary Mr Pfungwa Kunaka admitted that the allocated funds were insufficient but nevertheless applauded the Ministry of Finance that it did try to meet their requirements.
“We feel that this 20% is not sufficient, but we want to applaud the Ministry of Finance that it did try to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development,” Kunaka said.
This, however, did not go down well with Members of Parliament (MPs), with Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya asking Kunaka why he was happy with the 2023 budget when the Ministry has an 80% budget deficit and is failing to cater for small-scale miners who constantly lose their lives due to lack of equipment.
“My feeling is that you are satisfied despite the 20% allocation against a 100% bid you had put. I think you are comfortable with the 20%. Within your comfort, you have not expressed how you are going to take care, or rather (prevent) accidents that have been happening in the year 2022 whereby artisanal small-scale miners lost their lives and were found wanting because they did not have equipment.”
Rushinga legislator Tendai Nyabani said it was surprising that the Ministry was mum about mine accidents and the shortage of vehicles and furniture in its offices.
Kunaka said as an ex-treasury employee he appreciated any budget increase taking into account that the allocated funds were twice what the MMMD got for the 2022 year.
“I say this because we are comparing the allocation we had in 2022, which was around $6,5 billion. I once worked for Treasury and if there is an increase in the budget we become grateful,” he said.
Despite the Mines Ministry presiding over a sector that’s leading in foreign currency receipts it remains poorly funded with basic office utilities like computers, printing paper, and office furniture in a poor state. The Ministry is also short of vehicles which are a necessity in Mine inspections for Mining Title issuance. Meeting the Ministry’s budget would go a long way in ensuring it is well-resourced as the country pushes towards the 12 billion dollar Mining Industry by December 2023.