A LARGE chunk of Bulawayo City Council (BCC)’s 2025 budget will be channelled towards governance, water, sanitation, social services and roads, Southern Eye has established.
This was revealed by the finance and development committee chairperson Mpumelelo Moyo while presenting the 2025 budget and the review of the 2024 budget on Friday last week.
On governance, Moyo said council had set aside US$80 million for the programme, while US$20 million would be spent on capital projects, with US$60 million is earmarked for recurrent expenditure.
On water, sanitation and hygiene, Moyo said council set aside US$64 million, while US$19 million will be spent on capital projects and US$45 million on recurrent expenditure.
“The council has set aside US$102 million under this programme. US$25 million will be spent on capital projects, while US$77 million will be spent on recurrent expenditure.
“Cemetery fees will continue to be charged at the current tariff as there is no proposed increase in cemetery fees in the year 2025.
“Council has set aside US$35 million under this programme. US$16 million will be spent on capital projects, while US$19 million will be spent on recurrent expenditure.”
Moyo said on public safety and security services, council had set aside US$27 million for that programme, which covers emergency services, security services and public lighting.
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He said US$2 million would be spent on capital projects, while US$25 million would be spent on recurrent expenditure.
“Security services and emergency services are labour intensive and most of the recurrent expenditure will address manning levels and maintenance of equipment,” he said.
On natural resources conservation and management, Moyo said council set aside US$1 192 960 for that programme.
He said US$119 680 would be spent on capital projects while US$1 073 280 would go towards recurrent expenditure.
“Expenditure will go towards resuscitating council’s parks dotted around the city, bringing the Centenary Park back to its glory and sinking boreholes to irrigate parks,” he said.
“Council has introduced a number of innovative programmes to improve people’s lives and encourage and expand the usage of e-services and ICT.
“This is in line with council’s vision of becoming a smart city and Vision 2030. US$6,5 million has been set aside in the 2025 capital budget to procure hardware such as personal computers, laptops, tablets, printers, servers, hardware for prepaid metering and other peripheral computer-related equipment to enhance council’s digital interaction with stakeholders.”
Moyo said council also proposed to spend a further US$556 500 on computer software and software upgrades and new software such as the Valuation and Records Document Management System.
He said the software to be procured or upgraded covered council’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, website application upgrades and the customer contact centre upgrade project, adding that the local authority would seek to implement cyber security programmes and replace obsolete equipment.
Moyo said in line with Vision 2030, council was embarking on a number of projects to improve governance and the involvement of the community which was critical in delivering services to their satisfaction.
“The major activities planned in 2025 include councillors’ feedback meetings to be held at council’s halls and schools. There are a number of council policies yet to be rolled out to residents and stakeholders to capture their input.
“A number of by-laws are being updated to reflect council’s vision and Vision 2030. Residents made a call for frequent interaction and meetings. To that end, vouncil is working out the modalities of increasing the number of meetings at ward level to discuss civic
issues.”
BCC has since announced the 2025 budget proposal of US$309 million comprising a capital budget of US$82 million and revenue budget of US$227 million.
