Online Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council’s decision to freeze rates and rentals for the 2026 financial year is a commendable and timely gesture that deserves recognition.
The move offers much-needed relief to both households and businesses already stretched to their limits. It signals a rare moment of empathy and responsiveness from local government — an acknowledgement of the financial burdens borne by residents.
The proposed US$224.7 million standstill budget reflects a conscious effort to cushion ratepayers from further financial strain while still attempting to prioritise essential service delivery. That water and sanitation have been allocated the largest share — US$70,3 million — is both strategic and necessary.
Bulawayo has long grappled with water shortages, ageing infrastructure, and the challenges of urban expansion. The council’s commitment to improving pumping efficiency, reducing non-revenue water losses, and expanding reticulation systems is a step in the right direction.
If implemented effectively, these measures could significantly improve the quality of life for residents and enhance the city’s resilience against climate-induced water stress.
However, while the rate freeze is praiseworthy, it must not become a shield for mediocrity or a justification for poor service delivery. Residents have endured erratic water supplies, inconsistent refuse collection, pothole-ridden roads and deteriorating public amenities for far too long.
The budget outlines ambitious projects — from solar-powered streetlights and traffic system upgrades to the construction of schools and clinics — but the real test lies in execution.
Promises on paper must translate into tangible improvements on the ground.
Council must now rise to the challenge of delivering quality services efficiently, transparently and consistently. The absence of a rate hike should not translate into stagnation or complacency.
Instead, it should inspire innovation, prudent financial management, and a renewed commitment to accountability. Bulawayo deserves a local authority that not only listens but acts decisively and effectively. The city’s leadership must embrace modern governance principles — performance-based budgeting, citizen engagement and digital transparency — to ensure that every dollar spent delivers value.
Moreover, the council must resist the temptation to use the rate freeze as political cover. Service delivery should not be sacrificed at the altar of populism. If anything, the freeze should serve as a catalyst for reform — an opportunity to streamline operations, eliminate waste and build trust with the public. Residents are not merely consumers of municipal services; they are stakeholders whose voices and needs must shape the city’s development agenda.
In freezing rates, the council has earned the goodwill of its residents.
To retain it, it must ensure that every dollar in the budget translates into visible, measurable, and meaningful improvements in people’s lives. Let this be the year Bulawayo not only holds the line on costs but also raises the bar on service delivery.
The city’s future depends not just on financial prudence, but on visionary leadership and a relentless commitment to excellence.
