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Thupeyo Muleya,  Beitbridge Bureau

The Beitbridge Municipality has adopted a $11,8 billion (US$13 million) annual budget for 2023 which will see rates remain unchanged

Presenting the budget statement on Tuesday, Finance and Staffing Committee Chairperson, Councillor Granger Nyoni said the budget was prepared on a cost-recovery basis to provide sustainable, affordable, and efficient services.

“To achieve the aspirations of residents and stakeholders requires adequate resources and investment which talks to $11,8 billion (US$13 million) proposed revenue budget for the year 2023,” said Cllr Nyoni.

“The budget estimate seeks to address key service delivery issues like water and sanitation, roads, social services and housing, at the same time ensuring sustainable service provision.”

In formulating the budget, council had also taken into consideration its ability to continue offering services on a cost-recovery basis, economic indicators and liquidity of council.

Cllr Nyoni said there was need to strengthen the linkage between funding and results, with a view to improving effectiveness and the efficiency of public expenditures.

He said 36 percent of the revenue will be committed to infrastructure development projects in line with the ongoing US$300 million Beitbridge Border Modernisation project.

“We have taken into consideration the existing macro-economic fundamentals and are also informed by the need to provide service delivery at a cost-recovery basis for exchange transactions and a fair tax for non-exchange services in order to adequately fund this budget,” he said.

Cllr Nyoni said the local authority was anticipating a total income of $11, 762, 651, 380.00 (US$13, 069,612.64) and a total expenditure of $11,743,672,971 (US$13,048,524).

He said they would spend $4 billion capital projects which include infrastructure development on water, sanitation, and hygiene, social services, roads, education, development of Small to medium Enterprises (SMEs), and public lighting.

“The Municipality has also committed funds on the construction of a new water pipeline between Genter and Tower lane to address perennial water losses along that route, a new primary school, clinic, upgrading sewer reticulation facilities, public lighting at crime red zones, among other things,” said Cllr Nyoni.

“We also looked at gender main streaming issues in coming up with this budget and the provisions of the national Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

“It is our hope that all stakeholders and rate payers will do their party in honouring bills so that we may be able to deliver people centred services. If we work together, brick by brick, we will be to transform our town into a modern city.”

Mrs Flora Gumbo from Ward 5 said it was important for residents to pay up their bills for the local authority to be able to meet its obligations.

She said in some instances they had noted that some residents and institutions were not paying their bills on time thereby affecting the councils’ revenue collection capacity.

Mr Macnamara Madubeko of Ward 6 said although the local authority had taken into accounts the concerns of all stakeholders in coming up with an annual budget, it was critical for the city fathers to walk the talk on implementation