Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Leonard Ncube and Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Chronicle writers
THE Government has approved 90 percent of the budgets submitted by urban and rural local authorities nationwide, but Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, and Harare City Councils are still struggling to get their proposals approved for the year.
Local Government and Public Works Minister, Daniel Garwe, expressed concern over Bulawayo’s delayed budget approval, stating that BCC has joined the “problem children” category, alongside Harare and Chitungwiza.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Southern Africa Sustainable Development Goals Localisation and Voluntary Local Reviews Capacity Building Workshop in Victoria Falls, Minister Garwe said the Government expects all outstanding budgets to be in and approved by next week.
“Out of the 92 local authorities, we have got about 90 percent budgets have already been approved. Then we have some that are not,” said Minister Garwe.
“For some reasons, Bulawayo has not met the required expectations. So, we have given them some questions to answer.”
Minister Garwe said traditionally, Harare and Chitungwiza local authorities would fail to comply while Bulawayo would be among the first to submit.
Victoria Falls City Council is also usually among the first to submit and is currently waiting for approval after revising the US$22 million statement to factor in the proposal by the Government to set aside seven percent for the rehabilitation of sporting facilities.
“Normally, Bulawayo is one of the first local authorities to present a budget, but we discovered some things that were not being done properly all these years, which we said they needed to correct,” said Minister Garwe.
Bulawayo’s budget proposal was initially set at US$309 million but was revised downward after ratepayers rejected it.
The revised budget is now awaiting approval from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor David Coltart, disputed reports that the city’s budget had been reduced by 83 percent to US$53 million.
“We are now waiting on formal approval from the Ministry of Local Government and a formal, detailed and factually correct statement will be issued,” said Clr Coltart.
Minister Garwe attributed the delay in approving Bulawayo’s budget to non-compliance with the mandatory 70/30 ratio, which specifies the allocation of resources to service delivery and administration.
“Our technical guys discovered that, and we took it back,” he said.
“It is our prayer that we will not get to the middle of this month before these three local authorities, for example, have submitted their budgets and they’re approved.
“The majority of local authorities have submitted their budgets, which have been approved, which is the highest standard of compliance,” said Minister Garwe.
Ministry of Local Government and Public Works spokesperson, Mr Gabriel Masvora, said the special budget committee established for Bulawayo in December last year is expected to submit the revised budget document.
Online Reporter