Nape: 2018/19 budget should reflect the 2015-2010 CCM manifesto

Dar es Salaam. Former information minister Nape Nnauye says the 2018/19 budget due for tabling today, Thursday June 14, 2018, is the last realistic chance for the government to match the ruling party’s 2015 election campaign manifesto.

“The next two budgetary cycles will likely be affected by local government elections in 2009 and the General Election in 2020, so this is the last hope to fund promised development projects,” said Nape who is the CCM Member of Parliament for Mtama Constituency in Lindi Region.

He was speaking in an interview with Azam TV ahead of Finance Minister Dr Philip Mpango’s budget plan to be unveiled In Parliament, in Dodoma.

“We have seen huge amounts of money in budget papers but still our people are complaining about poverty and poor social services,” he said, challenging the government to translate its plans to actionable objectives to change the lives of poor Tanzanians.

Mr Nape who briefly served in President John Magufuli’s cabinet before he was dropped in controversial circumstances said the government must be realistic in setting its budget targets to avoid public criticism.

“It is a good thing to learn from mistakes. If you have failed to meet targets on revenue collection in the last budget, why should you aim even higher in the next one,” he queried.

The former minister has not shied away from reminding the government of its social contract with voters whom he says will likely punish the ruling party should the government renegade on the election promises.