admincharged for first six months of next year. The budget now awaits approval by the Local Government and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo.
Masvingo city’s budget for this year was about US$14, 7 million and next year’s proposed budget will only slightly jump to US$15, 2 million because of the sewerage levy.
Announcing the budget, the chairman of the finance committee Councillor David Chimombe said council had decided not to effect any increases on rates and tariffs in an attempt to ease the burden on the already stretched ratepayers.
Councillor Chimombe said Masvingo City would instead beef up its revenue inflows by ensuring that all those who owe council pay up.
He said council had resolved to introduce a sewerage levy to fund the construction of a dedicated sewage pump station and stop the discharge of raw sewage into Shakashe River, which is a tributary of Lake Mutirikwi.
Masvingo City Council was, a few months ago, fined nearly US$10 000 by a Masvingo magistrate’s court for discharging raw sewage into Shakashe River. Councillor Chimombe also announced that the city had earmarked a number of capital projects worth nearly US$26 million.
The projects would be funded from the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), council internal revenue and external funding.
Among the major capital projects to be embarked on next year is the water augmentation programme to increase water pumping and conveyance infrastructure that will chew US$10 million. Council will also spend nearly US$3 million on servicing new housing stands in the plush Rhodene suburb while US$1 million has been earmarked for construction of a new secondary school in Rujeko suburb in the city.
leeroy