FINANCE Minister Tendai Biti blasted the lack of financial discipline among cabinet colleagues as he revealed that foreign travel costs by ministers had soared to an “unacceptable” US$45 million.

Presenting the 2012 national budget to Parliament on Thursday, Biti said foreign travel by ministers and principals in the coalition government continued to be “a cancer” in the management of public finances.

“With regards to foreign travel, this continues to be a cancer in the management of our public resources. Between January (and) September, 2011, an unacceptable sum of US$45.5 million, representing 1,2 percent of the total budget had been spent on travelling,” Biti said.

He admitted that measures put in place to control the expenditure – including stripping ministers of aides on foreign trips – had so far failed.

“Government has tried to prescribe measures to restrain travel outside the country, thereby containing travel expenditure. However, there still remains a lot to be done, especially a change in culture and self-financial discipline at all levels,” he said.

Biti said treasury was under pressure from some ministers for increased per diem rates when travelling on government business, and appealed to the coalition government principals for help in bringing the expenditure under control.

He told MPs: “Treasury is always under pressure from some cabinet ministers over per diem rates in excess of the thresholds set, as well as being accompanied by security aides on every business trip.

“Accounting officers in line ministries are also confronted with rising domestic travel bills emanating from both official and private travel of ministers and deputy ministers.”

Biti he would propose a review of the “terms and thresholds for domestic travel” for ministers and deputy ministers” to help curb what he described as “wasteful expenditure”.