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Message: [QUOTE="Shamiso, post: 94166, member: 160"] Zimbabwe's 2027 budget talks have put drought risks and household needs high on the agenda. MPs and state officials met in Bulawayo to weigh how public cash should be spent, with roads, basic services, and support for struggling families all in the mix. And the big concern is how the economy will cope if bad weather or global events cause fresh problems. Those risks could affect farm output, public spending, and plans to improve the country. Elizabeth Masuku, an MP for Matabeleland North, wants poor families to get more help. She raised concerns about a possible El Niño drought, which could leave households that already have little cash in a worse spot. Barbara Rwodzi, who represents Chirumanzu, had a clear point about the talks. Budget plans should serve people beyond the halls of Parliament. After all, the choices made by MPs affect daily life across Zimbabwe. Farai Jere, the Murehwa West MP, also backed the talks. He sees the meeting as a chance for lawmakers to pass on the real needs of voters rather than just debate spending figures. Jacob Mudenda, Speaker of the National Assembly, gave the Finance Ministry credit for its work on economic reforms. He praised Parliament as well for checking how public funds are managed and helping keep spending in line. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube had some upbeat figures to share. Farm output rose by 27.9 percent in the prior year, and he linked that gain to the Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme, smarter farming methods, and state aid for seeds and other supplies. Another figure stood out. Tobacco farmers had sent in 359 million kilograms of their crop by the close of the third quarter. That gave Ncube another example of how the farm sector had performed. As for the near-term outlook, he expects farming to grow by five percent. Still, El Niño could affect the next harvest cycle, which makes future crop yields less certain. The talks also cover how to fund new infrastructure while keeping aid in place for people who need it most. There's only so much public cash to work with, and each choice has an impact. Global market shifts are another issue on the agenda. Officials want the budget to help Zimbabwe deal with shocks from abroad without losing track of its plans for growth at home. [/QUOTE]

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