Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru – In a move meant to foster transparency and accountability, residents and stakeholders have urged Gweru City Council to prioritize consultation on public funds to promote inclusivity and effective citizen participation.
The call was made during a pre-budget review consultative meeting held in Gweru last week.
The budget performance review and pre-budget consultation was focused on assessing how the 2022 budget funds were used and taking in community’s input ahead of the formulation of 2023 budget.
Speaking during the engagement, Gweru Residents Forum director Charles Mazorodze said council does not consult residents and stakeholders properly with regards to public funds as the disbursements of the devolution funds are not communicated to the people.
He added that, it is hard for residents to be actively involved in key decision processes like budget formulations as management and council would have passed their positions on certain decisions in most cases.
“The most key and important thing we value as stakeholders is inclusion in most council processes and projects mapping. As residents, we have a say in every decision you may sort to implement as we are the ratepayers.
“Consultations are key, we need them. A platform like this one where we undergo the budget review would encourage residents to attend in their numbers. Right now the community is not aware how much devolution funds were disbursed, how were they disbursed and used. We want to be active players in project mapping and have our areas of concern addressed as residents,” he said.
This year Gweru City was allocated ZW$ 302 million under devolution but due to delays in disbursement, a lot of projects are on hold, a development which has been seen as a major setback to the community.
Gweru Council Public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee however said as of last month about ZW$ 44 million out of the ZW$ 302 million had been disbursed.
She added that with this year’s allocation which had been disbursed, council has managed to do something for the city.
“As for our 2022 devolution funds, we received something. The money which was disbursed is ZW$ 44 million. So we deposited a tender for two trucks.
“However, the money disbursed is not enough for a single truck, so we are still trying to raise more money to ensure that we procure the trucks as per plan,” she said.
However some of the paid up projects as reflected by the 2022 devolution funds statement as of July 31, 2022: four skip bins were paid for at ZW$ 704 024, street lights rehabilitation at ZW$ 5 million, transformer at ZW$ 6 million, new Front End Loader at ZW$ 15 million, New Tipper at ZW$ 9 million, Ambulance at ZW$ 7 million, tractor at ZW$ 2 million and Electrical fittings/ boards at ZW$ 6.7 million.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) representative Rebecca Butawu said under next year’s devolution funds, there was need to prioritize the resuscitation of roads networks.
“Our council has a challenge, if your funds are allocated by the Central government under devolution they are not disbursed in time.
“As council, I want to know if follow ups are ever done to account for the remaining money. At least we need that money to be carried over to the following year.
“Kindly consider the state of our road networks in the city in next year’s budget, we need proper roads in our wards,” she said.
Brisky Ncube a Gweru youth also urged council to prioritize resuscitation of entertainment facilities in order to curb drug abuse.
“Yes, water is a priority; we need our water networks to be revamped. Invest again in the social wellbeing of the community. We no longer have sporting facilities as young people like theatres and recreational centres to keep youth away from social ills.
“Let’s combat the spread of drug abuse by establishing such therapeutic facilities. Prioritize youth needs in our next year’s devolution funds budget,” he urged.
Gweru Council Finance Committee chairperson and ward 3 councillor Martin Chivhoko said delays in the disbursement of devolution funds was greatly affecting proper consultation to be conducted.
