Online Reporter
Blessing Chafesuka
From The Town Clerk’s Desk
HELLO there, hope I find you well!
I come to you with good news as we embark on what I expect will be a positive year for our city and its residents and stakeholders. I am pleased to announce that the Government, through the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, has approved the city’s 2026 budget. This budget, which was approved on 29 January 2026, totals ZiG2,582,442,822.00. This early approval provides an exciting opportunity for the city to engage in various developmental projects aimed at improving service delivery.
As a city, we have complied with the Government’s directive to streamline and reduce licence fees as part of the national efforts to enhance the ease of doing business, resulting in the reduction of many licenses.
Accordingly, the city has aligned its 2026 licence budget to reflect these changes. Furthermore, the special education levy, which has enabled the city to achieve significant progress in construction of educational infrastructure, has been reinstated.
During the budget consultations conducted in the last quarter of 2025, 73 percent of respondents supported the reintroduction of this levy. The city still have a shortage of educational infrastructure, and we wish to add more educational facilities by constructing the first council school in a low-density residential suburb in Beira Corridor.
Other projects have been earmarked for execution under the 2026 budget year, including the construction of a new classroom block at Dangamvura Primary School, and the procurement of essential equipment such as a grader, a paver, a tipper truck, and two refuse compactors.
Other expected key deliverables included in the 2026 budget include the establishment of a fuel service station and a rehabilitation centre for drug and substance abuse. The issues related to drug and substance abuse are prevalent in our communities, highlighting the urgent need for a rehabilitation centre for those struggling with these challenges.
Addressing the Beira Corridor stands servicing issue which is a longstanding legacy concern for the city is a top priority in the 2026 budget and we aim to bring a final resolution to this matter.
Ongoing projects that were initiated in 2025, such as the construction of Hobhouse Clinic and rehabilitation of Sakubva basketball and tennis courts, will also continue under the current budget, to ensure their completion.
As a city, we are also committed to improving solid waste management, and we believe that the acquisition of two additional refuse compactors will help us achieve this goal.
Our roads have been in a bad state for quite some time due to limited funding and we recognise the importance of enhancing road trafficability. Under this quest, we aim to improve road trafficability from the current 57 percent to 60 percent.
As we strive to improve service delivery and move towards achieving the ideals of a Smart City concept for Mutare, I want to assure you that my office is open for engagement with residents and stakeholders. Our goal is to work collaboratively to enhance the quality of life for our residents and make Mutare a better place to live, work, or visit. I encourage residents and stakeholders to engage with my office, share their ideas, and provide feedback on how we can improve our services and achieve our vision of being a City of excellent municipal service delivery and prime investment destination by 2030.
Your feedback is valuable, contact us on WhatsApp platform +263775792461 and our hotline number 0202060551.
Join us every Wednesday on our weekly current affairs radio programme “Our City Wednesdays” on Diamond FM Radio from 1915hrs to 2000hrs.
Together, we will make our city great!
K.B. Chafesuka
Town Clerk
City of Mutare
