Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
THE Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has called for increased Treasury funding for constituency development centres and traditional leaders’ courts, warning that the current funding model could take more than a century to complete the projects nationwide.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the ministry needed a review of its budgetary allocation to meet its development targets by 2030, amid concerns that limited funding was slowing infrastructure development.
Speaking at the ongoing 2027 Pre-Budget Seminar in Bulawayo, Minister Garwe said the ministry had submitted a budget bid of US$27 billion to support legislative reforms, infrastructure development and other programmes under its mandate.
He said the ministry administered 16 Acts, several policies and numerous bylaws, many of which were promulgated in the 1960s and 1970s and required urgent review to align them with current development needs.
“Mr Speaker, program number one is to deal with the legislative Acts that we administer as the Minister of Local Government.
“We administer 16 Acts plus several policies and a whole basket of bylaws which were promulgated in the 60s and 70s, and they required urgent attention in terms of their use,” he said.
However, the minister said infrastructure development remained a major funding priority, particularly the construction of constituency development centres and traditional leaders’ courts.
He said Treasury allocated funding for only three centres in 2026, a pace he said was inadequate to meet the Government’s development targets.
“Mr Speaker, as you may want to know also that in 2026 we were given funds by Treasury to cover three centres.
“If that is the template that we are going to use, we require 83 years to build constituency centres throughout the country and we also require 105 years to build traditional leaders courts,” he said.
Minister Garwe called on Treasury to reconsider the allocation to his ministry to ensure the projects were completed within the Government’s development timeframe.
“It is not acceptable, it is not attainable, we need Treasury to re-look at the figure that is set aside for us, with the view that by the end of 2030, all the constituency development centres are fully constructed.
“We can not wait for 83 years and 104 years,” he said.
The funding concerns highlight the competing demands facing Government as ministries and departments submit their requirements for the 2027 National Budget.
The Pre-Budget Seminar is providing a platform for Government officials, legislators and other stakeholders to outline funding priorities ahead of the presentation of the 2027 National Budget by Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.
Constituency development centres are intended to provide infrastructure for community development activities, while traditional leaders’ courts support local dispute resolution and the administration of customary justice.
The ministry’s appeal comes as Government pursues infrastructure expansion and improved public service delivery, with the minister arguing that adequate funding is necessary to deliver the planned projects within the targeted timeframe.
