The allocation of funds in the 2024 national budget in Zimbabwe has raised concerns as the security cluster has been awarded ZWL2.3 trillion more than the health and childcare sector. This allocation represents 11.68% of the budget, falling short of the Abuja Declaration's target of allocating at least 15% of the budget to the health sector. The national security cluster received ZWL8.6 trillion, while the Ministry of Health and Childcare received ZWL6.3 trillion. The security cluster includes the Ministry of Defence, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Prisons and Correctional Service, and Special Services. Health sector officials have expressed concerns about the current state of the Zimbabwean health sector and the need for adequate resources.
In Kenya, the construction of more than 20 newly gazetted sub-county headquarters is one of the beneficiaries of the Sh6.5 billion additional allocation to the development budget for the State of Internal Security and National Administration. Other projects that will benefit from the fresh allocation in the Supplementary Budget for the financial year 2023/24 include the refurbishment of the 290 sub-county offices, the national secure communication and surveillance system, and the National Police Service modernisation programme. Internal Security’s development budget has been increased from Sh1.18 to Sh7.17 billion in the current financial year, with the additional funds also going to the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee. The money will also be used to construct deputy county commissioners’ offices as well as the expansion of the Government Chemist laboratory in Nairobi and Mombasa. President William Ruto announced the expansion of enrollment in the National Youth Service to capture more Kenyans at the bottom, doubling the enrollment to 40,000 and directing that 80% of future recruits to national security services will be from among the well-trained young men and women who have undergone training at NYS.
In Samoa, the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has allocated funds to ministers for the purchase of vehicles used for official purposes. The Prime Minister has not personally used this allocation. The allocation has been reduced from $85,000 to $70,000. The funds are also being allocated to other government departments. The government is also considering reducing the use of consultants and contractors. The allocation of funds to ministers has caused controversy and is being questioned by the opposition. [424d4689]