By A Correspondent- Opposition legislator Muchineripi Chinyanganya has called on government to apply austerity measures on foreign travel for government officials especially those who travel with the president arguing that foreign travel is chewing up a large chunk of the budget thereby exceeding the allocated ministerial budgets.

Chinyanganya called on the Finance ministry to walk the talk on austerity for prosperity and cut foreign travel expenditure.

He said:

“I make reference to foreign travel.  The Minister of Finance and Economic Development is on record saying he is implementing austerity for prosperity.  

If you look at the foreign travel vote allocation, it exceeds some ministerial budgets.  Look at the Vote for the Ministry of Youth and Ministry of Environment.  

Those are critical ministries but when an allocation of foreign travel exceeds a ministerial budget, we have a problem.  

This is because when the Head of State and Ministers travel outside the country they will be carrying useless people who do not add value to the business of Government.  

So, it is critical that the Vote is revised downwards.  When the Head of State and Ministers travel outside the country they should go with officials that add value to the mission.”