By A Correspondent- MDC VP Tendai Biti has queried why government has continuously been overspending since 2014 urging the Finance minister Prof Mthuli Mthuli to present to parliament a Bill of Condonation.

Biti said this at parliament Tuesday:

“…The second issue that concerned us were budget deficits.  The Government has been running budget deficits since 2014, starting with a modest budget deficit of $380 million in 2014 to $2.8 billion in 2018.  

Mr. Speaker, when Parliament sits to approve a Budget, we approve proposals that come from the Minister of Finance in disposing of its constitutional functions defined in Section 304/305 of the Constitution.  It is Government itself which says we want to spend $2 billion or $4 billion.  

It is an abuse of this Parliament when Government then proceeds to spend money outside that approved Budget but that can happen.  Mr. Speaker Sir, that is allowed in our law but when that happens, the Minister of Finance must come up with a bill of condonation to ask for forgiveness from this Hon. House for spending outside the limit that is given in the Appropriation Act, also known as the Budget.  

We are disturbed as a Committee that since 2014, the Government has been spending outside the Budget, running a budget deficit which at times has run up to more than 100% but has not come to this august House for condonation.  There are two things that must happen Mr. Speaker Sir.”