Midweek Reporter
MASVINGO-The National Progressive Democrats (NPD) have delivered a scathing critique of the 2026 national budget presented by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, describing it as “a criminal statement delivered as a national budget” and a clear indication that the government is prioritizing political loyalty over national development.
What sparked outrage across civil society and opposition circles was the contradiction between the government’s declared financial distress and its extravagant spending patterns.
NPD president Togara Fambi said, “Budgetary requests were slashed by a staggering 62 percent, with the Minister claiming the cuts were necessary to “cushion the cash-strapped government.
“He further adjusted IMTT downwards by 0.5% and VAT upwards by 0.5%, insisting these changes were made in the interest of the public.
“Yet, on the ground, the same government continues to distribute tens of thousands of US dollars to individuals, ZANU PF affiliates, and the 4ED groups raising questions about the true state of national finances.”
“How can a government claim to be broke in Parliament,” critics asked by an NPD, “while giving USD cash gifts of $10 000, $20 000, even $50 000 to its loyalists?”
This hypocrisy, NPD argues, exposes the widening gap between official narrative and lived reality.
“ZANU PF is rich, but its government is broke”
Members of the public have long questioned how ZANU PF as a party can afford to distribute USD cash in huge sums, $25 000 for one individual, $5 000 for their children while hospitals lack medicines, civil servants struggle with wages, and the country’s infrastructure continues to collapse.
“Is she the only person who assisted in the war of liberation?” one citizen asked, reacting to yet another large USD donation.
To many, the contradiction is no longer just suspicious, it is offensive.
NPD national chairman, Tendai Kabasa, did not mince his words.
“Looking at the budget announced by Mthuli and the figures, it is a shame to the whole country and to the world at large,” he said.
Kabasa accused the government of deliberately starving critical ministries of funding while splashing cash on entertainment figures, affiliates, and luxury perks for elites.
“They have money for their affiliates in USD cash, but nothing for hospitals, they have money for comedians, but nothing for social welfare and the disabled, they don’t have money for civil servants, but they buy top-of-the-range cars.”
He added that corruption and mismanagement have reached alarming levels.
“Corruption is at its peak. Looting is rampant among those connected to the ruling party, we need new leaders to manage Zimbabwe’s resources for the benefit of the general population.”
Kabasa emphasized that NPD is the alternative, promising accountable leadership and development driven by national, not partisan, priorities.
“ZANU PF must go, not now but right now. The coming in of NPD is the best and lasting solution,” he added.
NPD member Norman Maisiri from Midlands Province, Zhombe Constituency said, “The act of giving isolated resources to a few people, just to appear as if they care, only serves to divide the nation, we intend to create a government that will have a Ministry of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, which will benefit everyone in the arts industry.
“It will implement initiatives that do not only benefit comic elders like Leaving Frets, Sekuru Bitterness, Dan Rego, Nyarie, Comic Pastor, Nijo, just to mention a few.
“That Ministry will ensure that the Government sets its priorities correctly, instead of splashing money on individuals when it owes ZIMSEC and BEAM millions of dollars. We are doomed.”
Priestlay Tikiti, NPD deputy national spokesperson expressed deep disappointment, characterising the 2026 budget as yet another hollow document lacking real solutions.
“It feels like more of the same promises without substance. It completely fails to address crippling inflation or support struggling productive sectors.”
The party argues that the nation needs bold reforms, transparency in public finance, support for local industries, real economic relief for struggling households and accountability at every level of governance.
A budget, they said, should be a blueprint for prosperity, not a cycle of hardship.
Political analyst Tendai Ruben Mbofana delivered one of the most compelling assessments of the controversy.
“The contradiction highlighted by the National Progressive Democrats is very real,” he noted.
“The ZIG budget reflects a broke government. But the USD handouts reflect political spending, these two realities cannot honestly exist side by side.”
He warned that the government’s behaviour undermines public trust and exposes deep fiscal indiscipline.
“When a government claims poverty in Parliament but distributes large sums of hard currency outside formal structures, it raises serious concerns about transparency, priorities, and the separation between state resources and party interests.”
Mbofana added that this dual behaviour damages the credibility of monetary reform and raises questions about the source of these USD funds.
“Why are these dollars not going to hospitals, schools, and civil servants? Why are they not channeled through national priorities?”
For NPD and many Zimbabweans, the biggest tragedy is that the nation continues to suffer while a connected few flourish.
The country, they say, is crawling on its knees due to leaders who have chosen to pocket national resources and distribute them selectively.
The 2026 budget, instead of offering hope, has reinforced the belief that Zimbabwe is being run not for the people, but for a privileged circle.
And for NPD, the solution is clear, Zimbabwe needs honest leadership, not tomorrow, but right now.
