Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, smoyo@chronicle.co.zw
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC)’s special committee on budget review has proposed the interim application of 2017 tariffs while awaiting Government approval of the city’s 2025 budget.
This comes after the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works withheld approval of the budget due to unresolved concerns raised by the business community regarding the 2024 budget.
In November 2024, Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, instructed the ministry not to approve Bulawayo City Council’s (BCC) 2025 budget until issues flagged by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) Matabeleland Chamber were addressed.
The CZI had accused BCC of using an inaccurate formula to index tariffs for 2022 and 2023 in US dollars, leading to what it described as exorbitant charges. Efforts to resolve the matter, including meetings between CZI representatives, BCC officials, and Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube, failed to yield a consensus.
In response, Dr Rushwaya engaged the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr John Basera, emphasising the need to resolve the matter before the 2025 budget could be finalised.
A meeting chaired by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works’ Director of Local Authorities Inspectorate, Ms Priscillar Mudzinge, was convened in December at the council chambers. It brought together BCC representatives, the CZI, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), residents’ associations, tourism stakeholders, and tertiary institutions.
The meeting resolved to establish a Budget Review Committee tasked with revising the budget. The committee was given a one-week timeline, initially expected to conclude its work by January 7. However, delays by the council in providing critical documents have hindered progress.
On December 30, 2024, the committee resolved that BCC should apply the 2017 tariffs as a temporary measure until the 2025 budget is approved. Adjustments to these interim tariffs would be made after final approval of the 2025 budget.
“We wish to inform you that the special committee on the review of the City of Bulawayo budget and tariffs, at its meeting on December 30, 2024, made the following resolutions; the City of Bulawayo will apply the 2017 tariffs on an interim basis until the 2025 budget and tariffs are approved, adjustments to the temporary tariffs will be made after the approval of the 2025 tariffs.
“Your approval of the interim tariffs is sought to ensure a seamless review process,” wrote committee chairman Mr Thamsanqa Ndlovu in a letter addressed to Dr Basera.
The letter also highlighted that the technical team’s work remains incomplete due to outstanding information from the council, with some data promised by December 31, 2024, and the rest by January 7, which was on Tuesday.
The letter further reads that the special committee received a report from the technical team, which indicated that some requested information is still outstanding.
“The Council representative committed to providing some information by December 31, 2024, and the rest by January 7, 2025 (as) a result the technical team cannot complete its assignment without this outstanding information,” said the committee.
Director of Advocacy and Communications in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr Gabriel Masvora, acknowledged the committee’s existence and expressed hope for an amicable resolution.
“We are waiting for the two parties to engage each other and reach a win-win situation. At the moment, the ministry is reviewing budget proposals from all local authorities. Soon, the minister will announce which budgets have been approved and which ones have not,” he said.
