adminPatrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
Gweru City Council has suspended implementation of all capital projects as costs have rocketed way above budget due to inflation, and in some cases, the budget is now twice what was set aside.
One shelved project is the rehabilitation of the road network in Mkoba suburb. Council had budgeted about $2,6 million, but due to inflation, the figure has gone up threefold forcing, the contractor to move off site.
In an interview yesterday the mayor, Councillor Josiah Makombe, said it was difficult for the city to venture into capital projects.
Clr Makombe commended Government for the $7 million funding which has gone towards the purchasing of four water pumps which are being installed at Amapongobwe Dam to increase water supply to Gweru.
“If it was not for the Government intervention, we would be facing a lot of challenges in terms of sourcing funds for the pumps we needed to get water for the residents and stakeholders,” he said.
Clr Makombe said the situation has been compounded by the fact that Government has not yet approved the proposed $70 million supplementary budget which takes into account the ballooning costs.
He said council had a budget of $46 million for this year, a figure he said has to be revised at least twice if any meaningful projects are to be done this year.
“Government has not approved our supplementary budget. So without a supplementary budget, we can’t do much in terms of capital projects. Basically, we cannot do much other than provide basic service,” he said.
Online Reporter