Beitbridge RDC adopts US$5,2m budget for next year

BEITBRIDGE Rural District Council has adopted a US$5,2 million budget for 2025 with the major thrust being improving service delivery in the district in line with the blueprint aspirations of “A call to Action – No Compromise to Service delivery”.

President Mnangagwa launched the local authorities’ blueprint on service delivery in November last year, which is expected to drive towards the attainment of Vision 2030.

The blueprint presents various areas, which are of concern to the Government.

These include revenue collection and distribution, compliance with applicable laws, leasing and selling of land by local authorities in servitudes.

Others include leasing and selling of communal and agricultural land by local authorities as well as valuation of properties for rating purposes.

The blueprint also seeks to modernise and renew local authorities through a two-fold approach.

Beitbridge RDC Finance and audit committee chairperson, Councillor Luka Ndou said they came up with the budget following extensive consultations with various stakeholders in all the 15 wards.

“We propose a total expenditure budget of US$5 276 998,03 for the 2025 financial year where the greater proportion of expenditure is on social services programme.

“When compared to the 2024 budget, the total revenue for the 2025 financial year has decreased significantly due to a decrease in fiscal grant allocation,” he said

The distribution on governance and administration is US$1,8 million, which translates to 34,62 percent, water sanitation and hygiene was allocated US$200 000 (3,98 percent), social services got US$2,4 million (46,98 percent) while US$575 000 (10,9 percent) went towards roads

Public safety and security services were allocated US$130 106,40 (2,47 percent) while US$56 000 (1,06 percent) will go towards natural resources conservation and management

Cllr Ndou said they were allocated US$1,8 million by Government as fiscal grant while the local authority expects to collect US$2,7 million through levies, fees and service charges.

He said they intend to use US$2,8 million on capital expenditure, US$863 000 on general expenditure, US$1 million on employees’ compensation, US$413 000 for maintenance and US$94 000 for repairs.

Cllr Ndou said the tariff income will finance 51 percent of the 2025 budget while the remaining 49 percent will be financed through external funding, particularly fiscal grants.

“The 2025 tariff setting is based on a cost recovery basis, and therefore, cost build up scenarios have been clearly articulated in this budget. Fines are, thus, robust enough to motivate ratepayers to meet their obligations to the Council,” he said.
Cllr Ndou said tariffs will not increase to avoid over stretching residents,

“We are, however, introducing fines as per the two approved by-laws on advertising as well as environmental and natural resources.”

On capital expenditure, Cllr Ndou said they have made allocations to purchase a motorised grader at a cost of US$180 000, construct a bridge at a cost of US$60 000 and buy a tipper truck at a cost of US$76 800.

The local authority has set aside US$260 000 for the construction of three clinics while US$78 000 will be channelled towards the construction of two mother’s shelter.

“We also intend to construct classroom blocks and staff houses and we have set aside US$526 440. In terms of road construction, we have set aside US$120 000 while dam scooping with require US$102 400,” said Cllr Ndou.

“We will utilise US$45 000 for weir repairs and US$50 000 for drainage culverts. Our capital budget is US$2 463 611,86, which is largely financed through fiscal grants and Zinara.”

Cllr Ndou said in line with the devolution agenda and equitable development focus, the local authority has developed investment profiles that leverage its natural resource assets and potential.

The local authority, he added, had integrated gender mainstreaming in the 2025 budget programming as it intends to continue on the course of reducing gender disparities in communities by allocating resources in gender mainstreaming.

“Gender specific projects like mothers’ shelter in three clinics have been budgeted for with further three clinics budgeted to be constructed next year,” said Cllr Ndou.

He said Mazunga and Dumba clinics, which are about 98 percent complete are expected to be commissioned this year.

“Also, sexual and gender based violence awareness workshops have been budgeted to help reduce gender-based violence. We have also crafted a master plan, which will assist the council identify untapped sources of revenue while the valuation roll will assist council in the collection of rates from the planned settlement area of Lutumba, as well delivering services efficiently and effectively,” said Cllr Ndou.

To address water supply issues in the district, the council has set a target to have at least 240 community boreholes by the year 2028.