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Michael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
Kwekwe City Council is seriously considering drafting a supplementary budget to complement the initial $26,9 million budget recently approved by Government.

Government last month approved the local authority’s $26,9 million budget whose main thrust was to improve water supply and road network in the mining town. Addressing a full council meeting on Monday, Acting Town Clerk Dr Lucia Mnkandla said the budget has been overtaken by events.

“Our current budget has been overtaken by circumstances and if things continue like this we might be forced to come up with a supplementary budget. Prices have continued to rise therefore affecting our budget. I just want to alert councillors so that they will not be caught unawares,” said Dr Mnkandla.

Speaking in the same meeting, Councillor Melody Chingarande however said council should hold public consultations should be observed in the crafting of the supplementary budget.

“There is nothing wrong in coming up with a supplementary budget, but I strongly urge council to go back to the residents and consult them on the idea. We promised to get back to the residents after the approval of the budget and we are yet to do so. Now we want to come up with a supplementary budget without consulting them. Let us consult the ratepayers before we implement our idea,” said Councillor Chingarande.

Her sentiments come amid concern from Kwekwe Ratepayers and Residents Association (KRRA) that council was excluding them from its processes and denying them access to the budget document.

Kwekwe Mayor, Councillor Angeline Kasipo, however said measures would be put in place to ensure that consultations are conducted before the crafting of the supplementary budget.

“We will definitely do something to ensure that we consult residents as promised. We are going to start the consultations soon,” she said.