Financial Gazette (Harare)
21 April 2011
Harare — MINISTERS have continued to defy President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai over their expenditures resulting in government incurring a deficit in the first two months of the year, with local travel expenses overshooting budget by 100 percent in February.
Figures published by the Accountant-General’s department in the Government Gazette early this month on the consolidated financial performance from the beginning of the year to February 28 indicate a bad start for the inclusive government as it failed to live within its means.
In February, employment costs for diplomatic missions were the major culprits in overspending, overshooting their allocation by 100 percent, from the budgeted US$2,5 million for the period under review to over US$5 million.
The budget for civil service wages was pegged at US$70,8 million for the first two months of the year, but US$78,1 million ended up being used on that budgetary vote.
All in all, employment costs stood at US$89,5 million against the budgeted US$78,3 million.
There was also a budget deficit on goods and services, with domestic travel going beyond budget by 100 percent from US$500â-