Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
ALL local authorities across Zimbabwe must now allocate at least two percent of their annual budgets to disaster preparedness, emergency response and recovery, with the Government warning that failure to comply will result in their budgets being rejected.
The directive was issued by the Permanent Secretary for Local Government and Public Works, Mr Tafadzwa Muguti, as the ministry moves to strengthen disaster risk management and ensure councils are adequately equipped to respond to emergencies within their jurisdictions.
The directive comes as local authorities prepare for the rainy season amid concerns over flash floods, veld fires, water shortages, ageing infrastructure and waste management challenges.
Last week, the Bulawayo Provincial Civil Protection Committee identified nine potential hazards requiring assessment, including drought and water scarcity, veld fires, flash floods, hailstorms, road traffic accidents, infectious disease outbreaks, land degradation associated with unconventional mining methods, and drug and substance abuse.
Bulawayo chief fire officer Mr Mhlangano Moyo told the committee that the city’s fire services had attended to 640 fire incidents since January, highlighting the growing demands on emergency response services.
The committee is assessing high-risk areas and existing mitigation measures to determine where resources and interventions are most urgently required.
Mr Muguti said disaster management was a shared responsibility involving all three tiers of Government: Central Government, provincial and metropolitan structures, and local authorities.
“Disaster preparedness and response should not be regarded as the sole responsibility of Central Government,” he said.
Under the directive, town clerks, town secretaries and chief executive officers of local authorities must incorporate the mandatory allocation into their annual budget proposals, supported by
clearly defined programmes and activities for disaster risk management.
The funds will cater for the development and implementation of disaster risk management and contingency plans, procurement of emergency supplies, transport and fuel for response operations,
search and rescue, evacuation, temporary shelter and humanitarian assistance.
The allocation will also support disaster recovery and the rehabilitation of affected communities and infrastructure, public awareness campaigns, early warning systems, simulation exercises and
capacity-building programmes for emergency response teams.
Mr Muguti said councils should look beyond climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts and storms to address service delivery deficiencies that could trigger or exacerbate emergencies.
He cited poor solid waste management, inadequate drainage systems, dysfunctional sewerage infrastructure, settlements in unsuitable areas, fire safety deficiencies and poorly maintained roads as
vulnerabilities requiring urgent attention.
Such conditions, he said, could endanger lives and property while posing risks to public health and the environment.
Local authorities are therefore expected to implement practical risk-reduction measures through improved service delivery and stronger emergency preparedness and response systems.
Mr Muguti said the mandatory allocation was intended to provide a financial safeguard, enabling councils to respond promptly to emergencies rather than relying on ad hoc requests for assistance
from Central Government.
“The provision should be reflected in the relevant budget lines to facilitate planning, implementation, monitoring and accountability,” he said.
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He reiterated that the ministry would not approve annual budgets that failed to provide for the minimum two percent allocation towards disaster risk management.
The directive comes as local authorities contend with multiple hazards, including water shortages, veld fires, flash floods, road traffic accidents and public health emergencies, many of which
require adequate resources, timely intervention and coordination among emergency response agencies.
The mandatory provision could help councils plan and finance risk-reduction measures, including drainage maintenance, emergency equipment, fire response, public awareness campaigns and
contingency planning.
However, the requirement comes amid competing demands on council finances, with some local authorities facing substantial funding gaps as they seek to maintain ageing infrastructure, expand
services and strengthen emergency preparedness.
Bulawayo City Council’s proposed 2027 budget projects expenditure of about US$457,9 million against anticipated revenue of US$318,2 million, leaving a projected funding gap of approximately
US$139,7 million.
The proposal includes substantial spending on water and sewer infrastructure, roads and storm-water drainage across the city’s 29 wards.
Although the budget is still a proposal, the projected shortfall highlights the financial pressures facing the local authority as it seeks to maintain existing infrastructure, extend services to
developing suburbs and improve its capacity to respond to emergencies.
The proposed 2027 budget represents a significant increase from the US$220 million budget for 2026, which comprised US$153 million in recurrent expenditure and US$67 million in capital
expenditure.
