adminSukoluhle Ndlovu Midlands Correspondent
Zvishavane Town Council has proposed a supplementary budget of $14 million to match the current monetary environment after the initial budget was eroded by runaway inflation, an official has said.
The local authority’s initial budget which was approved by the Government had been pegged at $8,3 million.
Zvishavane Town Secretary Mr Tinoda Mukutu said the supplementary budget was meant to capacitate the council in carrying out its service delivery mandate.
“We have adopted a supplementary budget of $14 million as the initial budget has been eroded.
“After a number of consultations with various stakeholders from the mining town, we agreed to peg the budget at $14 million so that we are able to continue providing services to the residents.
“We have since forwarded our new proposed budget to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for approval,” he said.
Mr Mukutu said they have adjusted rates by more than 100 percent so that they are able to generate revenue needed to meet the day-to-day operations of the council.
“We have also adjusted our rates to suit the current economic situations. Other rates have been adjusted by 100 percent, while others have been adjusted by 50 percent. This will enable the council to purchase various goods necessary for service delivery. Of late we have been failing to purchase fuel for garbage collection.
“We are also failing to secure water treatment chemicals, a situation that has put residents’ lives at risk. The municipality has also started disconnecting water for residents who are defaulting on their payments as we are owed over $40 million by both residents and companies. We hope we will be able to recover some of the money by disconnecting water,” he said.
Recently, the Government through the Local Government Ministry allowed local authorities to do supplementary budgets after their initial annual budgets lost value because of monetary policy changes this year.
Local authorities including Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare and Kwekwe have also adopted supplementary budgets.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter