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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]

LOCAL Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, is set to visit Bulawayo tomorrow where he is expected to meet council officials and other stakeholders to explore ways of addressing the ongoing impasse over the city’s 2025 budget.

Bulawayo remains the only local authority among Zimbabwe’s 92 councils whose budget has not been approved by the Government, raising concerns about stalled development and service delivery in the country’s second-largest city.

Bulawayo City Council (BCC), initially proposed a US$309 million budget for 2025, a 17 percent increase from the previous year. However, Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, flagged anomalies in its formulation, prompting a directive for revisions based on audited 2017 figures.

A special budget committee was subsequently established, comprising council representatives, business stakeholders, residents’ associations, tertiary institutions and tourism players. Despite these efforts, disagreements between council officials and stakeholders, particularly over the disclosure of salary details, led to a deadlock.

The local authority cited provisions in the Cyber and Data Protection Act to justify withholding senior management salary details. Stakeholders, however, argued that this lack of transparency undermined trust.

The business community also raised concerns over labour costs, which had increased by 104 percent since 2017, from US$53 million to US$108 million.

Acting Local Government director Mrs Fikile Marovatsanga, confirmed Minister Garwe’s scheduled meeting with council management and members of the special budget committee. While her comments did not reveal the minister’s intended course of action, sources suggest that Minister Garwe may issue stern warnings to council officials. If no resolution is reached, there is speculation that a commission of inquiry could be appointed.

“The Minister will be here on Wednesday, where he will meet council management and members of the special budget committee that was set up last year. The meeting is over the outstanding city budget, which remains unapproved to date,” she said.

Earlier this month, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube, gave both parties a one-week ultimatum to resolve their differences. However, this deadline passed without progress, leaving the city without an approved budget as it enters the second quarter of 2025.

The lack of an approved budget has considerably hindered critical infrastructure projects in Bulawayo. Water shortages remain a pressing issue due to delays in upgrading water reticulation systems. Road maintenance, housing development and sanitation services have also been affected.

Bulawayo mayor Councillor David Coltart, expressed concern over the delays, saying it has exacerbated urban decay and deteriorating services.