Government celebrates Global Open Budget Survey Ranking

Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe has leaped with 11 points from 52nd to 41st out of 120 countries on the latest Global Open Budget Survey Ranking (GOBSR), a Cabinet Minister has said.

Speaking in a Post Cabinet briefing yesterday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said Government was pleased with such an improvement.

“Cabinet announces with immense pleasure that Zimbabwe has improved by 11 points from a ranking of 52nd to 41st out of 120 countries on the latest Global Open Budget Survey. The survey measures the overall quality of the national budget process, as well as the transparency and quality of consultations of the process. In terms of the quality of the budget, Zimbabwe ranks 14 points above the world average and well above all African countries,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Minister Mutsvangwa added that within Africa, Zimbabwe continued to shine as the country was now ranked third after South Africa and Benin which were first and second respectively. The Minister added that in the SADC region, Zimbabwe was ranked second to South Africa which took the top spot.

“Cabinet wishes to highlight that within Africa, Zimbabwe is now ranked third after South Arica and Benin, which occupy the first and second positions, respectively. In the Southern African region, Zimbabwe is now number two, behind South Africa. The improvement in the Global Open Survey is testimony of the success being achieved in the country’s economic reforms under the Second Republic,” added the Minister.

The Global Open Budget Survey is the World’s only independent, comparative and regular assessment of transparency, oversight and participation in national budgets.

Meanwhile, Government is continuously carrying out engagement and re-engagement exercises with different players both on the local and foreign market to create a transparent and fair environment for all stakeholders.

Recently President Emmerson Mnangagwa was invited to Davos, with the invitation being described by political analysts as an appreciation by the global community on the good governance which was prevailing under the Second Republic.