By Rudo Saungweme

A Government official has encouraged its Ministries to use their resources efficiently so as to improve service delivery.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube said this while addressing a three day Parliamentary Pre-budget Seminar which was held in Victoria Falls recently.

Minister Ncube emphasised the need for Programme Managers of Ministries to do their work industriously despite the prevailing economic challenges.

“Mr Speaker Sir, it is, however, unacceptable to note that despite the economic challenges that we have and the need for improved service delivery by our citizens, some Ministries have inefficient Programme Managers who do not diligently plan, implement, monitor and evaluate their programmes resulting in low absorption of budget and giving the impression that this is due to inadequate resources,” said the Minister of Finance.

Minister Ncube also encouraged line Ministries to religiously follow the Public Financial Management Regulations in management of resources for improved service delivery. He said that Ministries should desist from unauthorised expenditures through incurring debt from suppliers and service providers.

The Minister said that measures were being put in place to foster a stronger performance.

“The Office of the President and Cabinet, the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development are putting in place measures to foster a stronger performance culture in the Public Services and have undertaken to implement periodic joint reviews to assess progress,” he said.

Minister Ncube implored Accounting Officers to closely supervise their Programme Managers so that they effectively utilise disbursed resources.