Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube announced that Zimbabwe’s 2025 National Budget will focus on supporting vulnerable groups, including children, women, people with disabilities, and rural communities. Speaking at the Pre-National Budget Seminar in Bulawayo, Prof Ncube emphasized the budget’s alignment with international standards, including health, education, and agriculture allocations. Stakeholders have recommended reducing passport fees, lowering radio licenses, and revising customs duties on essentials to ease costs. The public also urged strengthened social safety nets, timely BEAM disbursements, pension increases, and civil service salary adjustments to address inflation and retain talent. Additionally, calls were made to shorten duty-free vehicle import periods for civil servants and fill critical vacancies in healthcare and education, especially in rural areas.
