The government has seemingly reneged on its earlier promises to provide free basic education starting next year.
In 2020, President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed into law the Education Amendment Act which compels the State to provide free basic education.
In July this year, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/govt-to-provide-free-education-starting-in-2023/#:~:text=The%20Government%20says%20it%20will,communities%20set%20to%20benefit%20first.">Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo said that the government says it will commence a State-funded basic education programme next year.</a>
However, in the National Assembly, last week, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube said the provision of free education would take time to implement. He said:
<blockquote>
To fully transition to total free education, we have to undertake a thorough evaluation of requirements, identifying gaps to debate and implementation of activities that broaden coverage for education to every child.
So, this is a process, we will get there because we have started but we are already doing a lot in terms of education access.
I have said earlier that provision of free education is a process, hence the budget increased allocation to the sector by 2.1% from the previous years.
</blockquote>
Ncube allocated $631.3 billion (US$976 million) towards providing quality infant, junior and secondary education but the bulk of the allocation will go towards teachers’ salaries and other learning costs. Added Ncube:
<blockquote>
Let me take this opportunity to advise the august House that already government is the main funder of basic education and that is from paying of teachers, construction of schools, provision of teaching and learning materials, supporting public examinations access, payment of fees for some schools and learners such as the Basic Education And Assistance (Beam) programme.
The government is already doing a lot in terms of making sure that there is better education access, indeed education is free.
</blockquote>
Speaking during the debate on the Finance Bill, ZANU PF Chief Whip in Parliament, Pupurai Togarepi, said the budget was insufficient to facilitate free education.
Mberengwa East legislator Marko Raidza (ZANU PF) said the budget allocation for education was inadequate to meet the needs of the Basic Education And Assistance Module (BEAM) facility. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200005138/govt-dithers-on-free-education">NewsDay</a>

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Provision Of Total Free Education Will Take Time - Mthuli Ncube

Members of Parliament this week rejected Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube’s attempt to use the Senate to backtrack on a commitment to increase the tax-free salary threshold to ZWL$900 000.
Earlier this month, after several hours of debate in the National Assembly, Ncube agreed to the compromise figure after MPs had initially demanded $1.2 million to help cushion working people against runaway inflation.
But on Tuesday, Ncube angered MPs after the Finance Bill was returned by the Senate with an amendment that would reduce the threshold to ZWL$750 000.
It is not clear why Ncube attempted to use the Senate to reduce the tax-free salary threshold but it could be that Treasury was worried over the likely impact of the ZWL$900 000 on Government revenue generation.
CCC MP, Tendai Biti (Harare East), was among several MPs who vehemently opposed the move by Senate to reduce the threshold. Said Biti:
<blockquote>
I want to implore Hon. Members from the other side of the House that we agreed on this position; it was a consensus position where everyone who represents the people of this country, accepts and appreciates the levels of poverty, destitution and the high inflation which we are experiencing in Zimbabwe came up with that common position. It was not a partisan position.
We spent hours arguing until the Minister agreed as a compromise to let the tax-free threshold go to ZWL$900 000.
What the Minister has done is to go back to that position which we rejected and then try to pretend that it is the Senate speaking.
It is not the Senate speaking, it is him speaking. So, we reject this amendment because it is a revision of the agreed position of the ZWL$900 000 tax-free threshold.
</blockquote>
ZANU PF’s Dexter Nduna (Chegutu West) concurred with Biti and other MPs who spoke after him about the need to maintain the figure that was agreed on. He said:
<blockquote>
So, it is my thinking that we will definitely not lose anything if we leave Clauses 2, 3 and indeed 4 to read ZWL$900 000.00 in the manner that it is.
</blockquote>
Deputy Finance Minister Clemence Chaduwa, who represented Ncube, agreed to maintain the threshold at ZWL$900 000. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mps-blast-dishonest-mthuli-in-heated-senate-parly-tax-stand-off-scrupulous-biti-explains-law-as-minister-in-failed-bid-to-change-commitment/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

MPs Criticise Mthuli For Reneging On Tax-free Salary Threshold

The government has raised the tax-free threshold to 5 000 Zimbabwe dollars per month, while mining companies have been directed to pay royalties in foreign currency.
This was revealed by Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube during the second reading of The Finance Bill in Senate on Wednesday.
Ncube told the Senators that the upward review of the tax-free threshold was aimed at cushioning workers from Coronavirus induced challenges. He said:
<blockquote>In view of the Covid-19 triggered financial meltdown, employees earning less than five thousand dollars per month will not pay taxes starting from the month of August until the end of the year.</blockquote>
Ncube also said the Finance Bill seeks to increase foreign currency inflows into government coffers by charging mining royalties in foreign currency. Said Ncube:
<blockquote>One of the provisions of the finance bill is to allow mining companies to pay royalties in foreign currency unless requirements do not apply where they will continue paying in local currency.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/government-reviews-tax-free-threshold-to-5000/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZBC News</a></h4>

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