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Walter Mswazie Herald Correspondent
MASVINGO City Council has started consulting residents on the 2018 budget.

The meetings began last week and are expected to end this week.

Council will use views from residents to come up with a budget that will be presented to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development for approval.

Masvingo Mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze urged residents to be part of the budget consultations.

“We have planned budget consultation meetings in all wards where we expect residents to have full representation. We are happy with the attendance so far, residents are coming in numbers.

“The contributions are encouraging and we expect the same in all meetings until we finish the process on Friday.

“Residents should own the budget so that we do not have a challenge when we come to its adoption. All the city’s 10 wards will be covered.”

Clr Fidze encouraged residents to take note of the dates when meetings would be held in their respective wards so that they will not miss being part of the budget process.

“I think we have done our part as council because we have put up notices at all community halls in the suburbs, shops and public premises.

“The notices stating the dates on which the meetings will be held and the venues are almost everywhere. Residents should attend at all cost,” he said.

Masvingo United Ratepayers and Residents Alliance spokesperson Mr Godfrey Mutimba hailed council for consulting residents on budget processes which will instil confidence.

“The move taken by council to consult residents so that they can have inputs into the local authority’s 2018 budget proposal is welcome.

“Residents should always have a say on how their rates are used. They should also be given opportunity to make suggestions on issues that they feel will affect service delivery. This is best practice by our city fathers,” said Mr Mutimba.

For 2017, the local authority proposed a budget of $27 million.