Marathon budget session kicks off today

Parliament

THE 11 session of the Parliamentary, budget sitting kicks off today whereas according to the timetable, the national budget and the national development plan will be tabled on June 15, 2023.

According to the time table released on Monday several bills including the Finance bill, 2023, the appropriation bill 2023 and the finance bill 2023 are lined up to be presented.

According to the timetable, today, the National Assembly Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson will read a report on a number of issues as well as election of the Parliament chairpersons. A number of questions are lined up for the three-month budget session.

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The Prime Minister’s office budget speech will lead the show and will be tabled on Wednesday and debated for five days, seeking approval of the members of parliamentarian.

Submitting the budget framework for the 2023/2024 financial year before legislators in Dodoma last month, the Finance and Planning Minister, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba announced that the government plans to collect over 44.3tri/- for recurrent and development expenditures.

The new budget outlook indicates a seven per cent increase from the current fiscal year (2022/23), which is 41.5tri/- budget.

According to Dr Nchemba, recurrent expenditure will be 29.2tri/- with the development expenditure taking up the remaining 15.1tri/-.

This suggests that the development expenditure accounts for 34 per cent of the total budget, with the recurrent expenditure taking the remaining lion’s share.

The 2023/24 budget forecast the specific priority areas as the construction of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), specifically the Mtwara-Mbamba Bay railway and its Mchuchuma and Liganga branches, Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project.

Also, in the list is improving Tanzania Airlines (ATCL), Oil Pipeline Raw from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania, Natural Gas Processing (LNG) in Lindi, Magadi Soda Project Engaruka, Coal, Iron and Steel Project in Liganga.

Other priority areas include Ruhudji Hydropower Project in Njombe, Rumakali Hydropower Project in Njombe,    bridges and highways construction, construction of Kilwa fishing Port and procurement of Vessels.

Others are Sugarcane Farm and Sugar Factory in Mkulazi, Oil and Gas Exploration at Eyasi-Wembere basin, Oil and gas exploration at Mnazi Bay North basin and Special Economic Zones including Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone.

The budget session is sitting with some standing committees acquiring new faces of Chairpersons and members following changes announced by the National Assembly Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson in February this year.