Yes, Mr Speaker Sir, we do have a debt arrears cle...

Yes, Mr Speaker Sir, we do have a debt arrears clearance plan in place – Mthuli tells Parly

Zimbabwe's debt strategy meaningless without reforms: ZIMCODD – #Asakhe – CITE

Zim Now Writer

Professor Mthuli Ncube, the Finance and Economic Development Minister, has told Parliament Zimbabwe has a debt clearing strategy in place contrary to assertions from some sectors within Parliament that there is none.

The Minister was speaking in the august house on Monday, and responding to Hon Tendai Biti - a former Finance Minister himself during the Government of National Unity era.

“Biti insinuated that we do not have a debt arrears clearance plan, we do. If I can challenge him – when he was Minister of Finance, he did nothing about clearing our debts. He did not do anything. I am not aware. Hon. Chinamasa tried to do something and then he was blocked.

“I am trying to do something. I think he should be more sympathetic. He had certain constraints which I am aware of which I will not say in this House but I am aware of them because I travel out there. I know what he was told out there because they tell me.

“The same people that he met, I also met them. So, we have a plan and if I can remind this House and him, we have agreed that Adesina can be our champion and we are very pleased that he is a champion for arrears clearance.

“We held our first high level meeting on 1 December with IFIs, the preferred creditors as well as the Paris Club Partners to discuss our roadmap,” Prof Ncube said, adding they had engaged the wise counsel of former Mozambican President, Joachim Chissano to help.

“President Mnangagwa has been very transparent, he has been leading from the front on this issue and we have a plan and a document which I am happy to share with anyone. I will gladly give him a copy,” he said.

The Minister confirmed that at 66% of the country’s population, the informal sector remained the biggest form of employment and that in itself was not a bad development.

“On the issue that I should present the budget in US$ – no, no, I chose to present it in ZW$ and that is fairly in order, given our currency regime.

“Hon. Biti then makes a comment about parallel budgeting and why we always come for condonation. Look, I have come to this House to seek condonation and that is how it works. That is not breaking the law.

“I have come to present supplementary budget and you have been so kind as an august House to allow me to have a supplementary budget. That again is within the law. That is how it works. So there is nothing wrong in coming to this august House to seek condonation. Nothing wrong in coming to this House to seek permission to have a supplementary budget and it is in order.”