By Margaret Kamba 

I am not in the habit of comparing people, but I just couldn't hold myself on this one. 

Forgive me when I say that had the 2024 Budget presentation been done by the Deputy Minister of Finance Minister Kuda Mnangagwa, the opposition and any other person would not have had many qualms with it.

There are times when in life taking advantage of the qualities of colleagues works very well in one's favour, and this I believe is one case in point.

I was privileged enough to sit through a two hour presentation during which the energetic, calm, and collected as well as articulate Minister not only presented but answered questions fielded by those in attendance.

The meeting had very few critics thanks to the manner in which the learned Minister conveyed the whole Budget.

Let's not forget that the crowd were men and women who had been in touch with the ground and knew very well how the people had reservations. 

This coupled with the opposition's smear campaigning of the same Budget as being anti-people.

During the whole session, all I could hear were other additions that should have been added to the budget in order to help realise the much needed funds for expenditure.

If the Deputy Minister was a finance teacher, I would have enrolled into his finance class.

The thrust of the Deputy Minister was to make those in the meeting understand the rationale behind the budget and that he executed very well.

What were his submissions? 95 percent of the budget comes from tax, unlike in the past, where part of it would come from parastatals. 

2024 will be a rough year due to the El-Nino effects. This is a budget for everyone trying to balance national development from tax revenues.

There should not be numerous half done projects but more of complete projects.

There are structures that are in place that need re-looking as policy, administration, and infrastructure may not allow for efficiency and sustainability.

Clear definition of the needs of the women or youths to allow for social support.

The need to weigh the importation of goods and the support for the local industry.

These, among other issues to do with passport fees, wealth tax, sugar tax, excise duty, tollgates, and capital gains, all took the centre stage.

Given the powers, I would appoint the Deputy Minister as the Minister. Why? Because of his accuracy and the zeal to make his audience understand the financial jargon. 

There was no throwing around of that fancy financial language, which quickly gets one disinterested in a subject as though it is aimed at hiding who knows what.

Iam of the opinion that, given more of such capable leaders, even the lay man on the street will understand what the Second Republic under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is doing and ably play their part of "nyika inovakwa nevene vayo". I rest my case.