Sydney Mubaiwa

MIDLANDS BUREAU CHIEF

GWERU –The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo summoned all local authorities to Gweru for performance appraisal and 2023 budget approval process.

The process which started on Wednesday January 4, 2023 ended on Sunday. Ninety-two rural and urban councils gathered to defend their proposed 2023 budgets.

Masvingo City Council, Chiredzi Rural District Council and Mhondoro-Ngezi Rural District Council had their budgets disapproved after they failed to explain their 2023 budget projections.

In his address, Moyo said councils should play pivotal roles in employment creation through the implementation of projects in their respective areas.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you all to the 2023 budget approval process. The process is being held at a time when Government is implementing people-centred development policies which attract investment opportunities.

“The same thing should cascade from our local authorities and it is difficult for the ministry to approve a local authority’s budget without proper tabulation on how investment opportunities are going to be created in its budget projections,” he said.

He said councils should give first priority to the acquisition of potable water as enunciated by President Mnangagwa while addressing the United Nations General Assembly last year.

“Let’s prioritize access to portable water and other service delivery mandates and these are guiding principles for all local authorities’ budgets,” he said.

The budget approval process comes following capacity building processes centered on revenue generation, financial modelling and drafting of by-laws,” he said.

“Key issues to take into consideration when disapproving budgets include lack of by-laws, absence of general valuation roll, non-compliance to Statutory Audits, lack of thorough comprehension of revenue sources as guided by Statutes and late submissions of budgets,” he said.

He said his Ministry also provided assistance to councils which required property assessment for valuation.

“I am also informed that for 2022, there are 17 new applications with the department of Estates and Valuations at the Ministry.

“Furthermore, seven local authorities are currently being assessed and I am impressed that Buhera and Bikita RDC are amongst the list,” he said.