Business Reporter
DESPITE the government’s failure to fund critical social services over the years, treasury claims it recorded a surplus of ZiG346 billion in the first four months of the 2025 fiscal year, underpinned by disciplined cost containment measures.
The department also lauded itself for punctual debt servicing during the period.
While the surplus falls short of the ZiG718 billion originally budgeted for, leaving a negative variance of 26 percent, it nonetheless marks a commendable start to the year.
At ZiG18,2 billion, total expenses to April 2025 came in just 1 percent below the ZiG18,35 billion budget, reflecting tight control over expenditure outlays.
Payment towards the compensation of employees stood at ZiG8,47 billion, which is 4 percent under budget, underscoring a leaner payroll without compromising essential staffing levels.
Interest payments on public debt of ZiG362,9 million exceeded the ZiG311 million target, yet their timely settlement should go a long way in bolstering creditor confidence in the Treasury.
Social benefit payouts, similarly, were close to the expenditure plan, at ZiG2,1 billion versus the ZiG2 billion estimate at the beginning of the year.
Crucially, non-tax revenue performed spectacularly, bringing in ZiG1,8 billion against a projection of ZiG0,6 billion, outpacing targeted performance by 200 percent, or ZiG1,2 billion above budget.
-Zimpapers
