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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]

The Bulawayo City Council’s special budget committee has revised the local authority’s 2025 budget downwards by 83 percent, from the initially proposed figure of US$309 million to US$53 million.

The special budget committee, established in December last year after ratepayers—led by the business community—rejected the proposed 2025 budget, was chaired by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. The rejection followed reports that the council had used an incorrect formula, indexing 2022 and 2023 tariffs to the United States dollar.

The revised budget now awaits approval by the parent ministry, in line with the law.

The chairperson of the special budget committee, Mrs Tswagai Fikile Marovatsanga, who is also the director of Local Government in Bulawayo, confirmed the developments.

“I have just been speaking to the town clerk (Mr Christopher Dube), who has told me that the document has been submitted to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for the usual processes. The committee resolved to use the 2017 budget and adjust it by 10 percent,” said Mrs Marovatsanga.

The 2017 budget was US$48,109,346, and if the committee’s proposal is endorsed by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, the city’s 2025 budget will stand at US$52,920,280.60. This significant reduction is expected to have major operational implications for the council, particularly in terms of service delivery and staff salaries.

Mr Dumisani Sibanda, who represented the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (Matabeleland Chapter) on the committee, said the initial proposal was to factor in a seven percent increase on the 2017 budget.

“The figure was later adjusted to 10 percent after taking into account that the council still had some running contracts with some of its service providers,” said Mr Sibanda.

The revised budget reflects the council’s efforts to address ratepayer concerns while balancing its operational needs. However, the drastic reduction raises questions about the city’s ability to maintain service delivery standards and meet its financial obligations in the coming year.