Mixed feelings over Harare City budget Precious Shumba
Precious Shumba

Precious Shumba

Herald Reporter
Harare residents have expressed mixed feelings over the city’s 2014 budget which was announced last Friday. The city announced a US$369,3 million budget and hinted on revising tariffs and charges downwards. Harare Residents’ Trust director Mr Precious Shumba said it was unfortunate the budget had not addressed the residents’ proposals on the fixed water charges.

“The council’s budget has not addressed the issues of fixed water charges as we proposed, neither has the council fully addressed the question of residents’ ability to pay the rates proposed, which are in essence similar to what they have been paying in the last three years.

“We had hoped for the council to commission a research to investigate the capacities of its customers to pay the existing rates, and check that against its historical performance,” he said.

Mr Shumba lamented the absence of audited financial results to inform residents of the performance of council the previous year.
“We are concerned that the City of Harare has again failed to update the citizenry on the performance of the 2013 budget in relation to what was approved by the ministry of Local Government.

It is also irresponsible for the council to continue to produce new budgets without producing audited accounts to give citizens a comparative analysis of budget performance and projects for the 2014 financial year,” he said.

Combined Harare Residents’ Association director Mr Simbarashe Moyo said they were generally happy with the budget but noted that the allocation for salaries was too high.

“We have major concerns on issues of the total amount that is going to salaries. Forty-eight percent is by far abnormal as it means that almost half of the budget is now going to recurrent expenditure.

“There is also the threat of the budget failing to perform due to the macro-economic conditions but we hope with serious engagement with stakeholders, residents can be encouraged to pay their bills,” Mr Moyo said.

Presenting the budget chairperson of the Finance and Development Committee Councillor Allan Markham said 48 percent of council’s expenditure had been allocated to salaries, followed by general expenditure with 26 percent, repairs and maintenance 9 percent, administration charges 8 percent, while revenue contribution to capital outlay is 3 percent.

Harare Residents’ Alliance chairperson Mr Israel Mabhoo hailed the inclusion of residents in the making of the budget.
“We are happy that the process of drafting this budget included residents,” he said.

“While the wage bill is high, some major capital projects continue to be postponed and this situation is far from ideal and this needs to be addressed,” Mr Mabhoo said.

A council employee who refused to be named said the issue of erasing the fixed water charge was not feasible as local authorities need money to function and we need to meet the human rights aspect that is associated with water provision,” he said.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey