Gweru council adopts contested budget

The Gweru City council yesterday adopted a proposed $31,5 million

budget in a move that has riled residents’ associations who have

threatened to take unspecified action against the local authority.

The proposed budget was adopted during a full council meeting which was

chaired by Gweru mayor, Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi.

The council has since resolved to forward the budget to the Minister of

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Dr Ignatius Chombo

in two weeks’ time to give residents and other stakeholders time to make

their own input.

Clr Kombayi pointed out that despite the budget having been adopted by

councillors, there could still be amendments that could be effected.

“Adoption of the budget by councillors doesn’t mean that the budget has

already been passed. We’re giving ratepayers two weeks to inspect the

budget and make their own contributions.

“If there’s overwhelming evidence that people have reservations over the

budget then it will be altered to include the views of the people," he said.

Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRAA) chairperson, Cornilia

Selipiwe, described the adoption of the budget as ‘criminal’.

Said Selipiwe: “What the councillors have done is criminal because there

is no justification for adopting the budget after residents expressed

their reservations when the budget consultative meeting was held.

“Honestly, how can you increase the budget when the economy is going

through a period of deflation and when ratepayers are failing to pay the

current rates which council is charging?”

The adopted budget is a 35 percent increase from last year’s which stood

at $24,5 million.

Among some of the proposed increases was that of fixed water charges

which increased from $3 to $5.

Usage of a single cubic metre of water will cost $0,80 up from $0,60 per

cubic metre.

Defending the budget, the city’s finance director, Edgar Mwedzi, said

the increase was necessitated by the need to reduce the budget deficit

from $1,024,969 for this year to an estimated $350,000 next year, a

situation which he said is in line with international best practices .-CHRONICLE