HARARE,– The highlights from Finance Minister, Patrick Chinamasa’s Budget Review and Outlook.
- Economy grew 0.7 percent in 2016 against a target of 2.7 percent due to ElNino induced drought
- Household consumption fell by 11,8 percent in 2016.
- Agriculture is expected to grow by 21,6 percent in 2017
- Mining sector contributed 2,2 percent to fiscus in 2016 and is seen growing by 5,1 percent in 2017
- Mineral exports amounted to $2,2 billion in 2016 from $2,1 billion in 2015; gold and platinum being major contributors
- Diamond output during the first half of 2017 stood at 1,1 million carats compared to 690,000 carats in the previous year
- Manufacturing sector grew 0,3 percent in 2016 compared to 0,2 percent in the previous year
- Construction industry registered a 3,5 percent growth in 2016 on the back of housing construction
- Economy to grow 3,7 percent in 2017 driven by agriculture, mining, and electricity and water.
- 2017 full year revenue is seen at $3,7 billion
- Wage expenditures in 2016 accounted for 65,5 percent and 91,7 percent of budget expenditure and revenue
- Health Levy Fund of 5 cents for every dollar of mobile airtime and data introduced in 2017 has to date mobilised $8,5 million
- Government channelled $403 million towards infrastructure development projects in 2016
- Treasury bills amounting to $2,1 billion were issued in 2016 to honour $1,7 billion legacy debt and to finance the previous year’s $356 million budget deficit
- Total debt estimated at $11,3 billion as at December 2016
- Total banking sector deposits increased by 15,8 percent to $6,5 billion in 2016
- Individual lending rates went down to 9 percent in the first half of 2017 from 12 percent in 2016
- Non-Performing Loans declined to 7,87 percent in 2016 from 10,82 percent in 2015
- Agriculture exports in 2017 seen increasing by 6,7 percent to $1,16 billion
- Manufactured exports seen at $363 million in 2017 from $320 million in the previous year
- Total exports seen at $3,9 billion in 2017 versus imports of $5,4 billion
