Harare budget consultations begin

Municipal Reporter

Harare City Council’s annual budget consultations for next year have started, with the local authority urging residents to participate in the meetings.

Council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme said the meetings began on Monday and would end this month.

“We have started very well and have been receiving feedback from stakeholders. However, we encourage more participation so that we can come up with an inclusive budget as much as we can.

“We will be strictly following the ward based schedule which we shared,” he said.

The local authority is issuing notices for specific sectors so that they meet target groups virtually.

Stakeholders have been complaining that council’s processes are merely cosmetic and called on the local authority to avail information on the 2021 budget performance so that residents could add input into the 2022 budget from an informed position.

“We have been having challenges in accessing information on budget performance and the draft budget which makes it difficult to participate from an informed position,” said Mr Wisborn Malaya from the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy.

In terms of the Urban Councils Act, when the budget estimates have been approved by council and approved by the mayor, copies of the estimates are made available for public inspection.

Furthermore, Section 219 (2) of the Urban Councils Act 29:15 provides that before any tariff or charges come into effect, a statement setting out the proposed tariffs shall be advertised in two issues of newspapers and posted at council offices for a period of not less than 30 days.