Zibagwe aims to improve health

Midlands Correspondent
Zibagwe Rural District Council has adopted a $2,4 million “internal revenue-based” budget for 2019 which is aimed at improving health delivery and sustainable infrastructure.

The budget, which will grow to $3 288 410 if both internal and external sources of revenue are factored in, sailed through council with all 33 councillors approving its adoption.

Zibagwe RDC chief executive Mr Farayi Machaya said the rural authority had migrated from the results-based budgeting to a programme-based budget method.

“The programme-based budgeting system entails that we should include both internal and external sources of revenue like loans, grants, Zinara funds and PSIP funds,” he said.

“Council’s total revenue estimates for the year 2019 have been pegged at $3 288 410 including $950 000 from other funding sources, which include a loan and Zinara disbursements.

“In other words, our budget for internally generated income is $2 338 409, 80.”

Mr Machaya said the decrease in last year’s revenue collections by 15 percent attributed to the liquidity crunch in the economy and laxity in ratepayers has resulted in the reviewing of tariffs upwards.

“Most rates and levies will remain the same, save for sale of stands that were increased as follows, high-density stands from $1 170 to $2 500, low-density stands have been increased from $1 470 to $2 700 while medium stands have been reviewed to $3 000 up from $1 270,” he said.

“The increase in the sale of stands has contributed significantly to an increase in our projections.”

Capital expenditure, which is predominant in the budget standing at 46,3 percent, has seen a total of $1 442 953 set aside for projects like construction of dump-sites, construction of clinics, construction of public toilets as well as purchase of furniture and equipment.

About $200 000 has been set aside for the purchase of three vehicles meant for the council chairperson, CEO and another one for administration purposes.

Mr Machaya said the rural authority also intends to buy a drill rig for the drilling of boreholes to ease water challenges.

“Owing to thslow pace of the project against the urgent water requirement of our residents, we have budgeted for the acquisition of a drill rig, which will be financed by a PSIP loan, from the Government. The special levy that we introduced to all ratepayers will finance the repayment of loan,” said Mr Machaya.

Roads activities have been allocated $500 000 with the aim of rehabilitation more than 1 000km in the district.

“In a quest to continuously improve our roads to be trafficable, we have budgeted $500 000 which shall be financed by ZINARA for periodic and routine road grading activities,” said Mr Machaya.