BULAWAYO City Council is failing to undertake some major projects that include improvements on infrastructure to alleviate water challenges as the Local Government ministry is yet to approve its 2025 budget.
Council’s 2025 budget stands at US$53 million, down from US$309 million following objections from various stakeholders such as residents and the business community.
Most of the money would be spent on water reticulation and sanitation, social services, housing, and road infrastructure.
Water infrastructure will receive particular attention, with the city battling drought and severely depleted dam levels.
Local Government minister Daniel Garwe recently revealed that over 90% of other council budgets have been approved already.
Bulawayo mayor, David Cotart, said the failure by the ministry to timeously approve the council’s 2025 budget was frustrating service delivery amid high expectations from residents.
"We appeal to the government to approve our budget so that we bring development within our city as delays have only led to deterioration of services," Coltart said.
“It is strange the central government have never given us any reasons why they have been delaying to approve our budget.”
- Benzema confident Real will reach UCL final
- Rigging exposes widening Mnangagwa, Chiwenga rift
- Health talk: Mental health disorders and demolitions in Zimbabwe
- Munatsi family speaks on banker’s shock death
Keep Reading
Coltart said the council was even failing to collect refuse and purchase equipment due to lack of capital.
"The delays have slowed down our city's development agenda, affecting the growth of the city,” he said.
Garwe did not respond to calls from Sunday Southern Eye when efforts were made to get his comment on the issue.
The initial US$309 million budget was found to be at fault in relation to the income/salary ratio.
Government regulations dictate that not more than 30% of the council’s income should go towards salaries.
The council is proposing the introduction of a special roads levy and a special water levy, with domestic properties expected to pay US$1 per month for each levy, while commercial properties will pay US$10 per month.
The city’s 2025 budget is themed Consolidating Economic Transformation. Council said the theme aligns with the government’s National Development Strategy I, which aims to steer the nation towards becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
For Bulawayo, this vision is underpinned by goals of sustainability, infrastructure renewal, and improved service delivery.
Bulawayo faces urban decay, poor road infrastructure and deteriorating social services while water challenges persist with no solutions in sight.
