By Andrew Muvishi
Marondera Municipality is projecting a 25% growth in revenue to ZiG894.08 million in 2026, up from ZiG714.73 million budgeted in 2025, anchored by a sharp rise in income from estates and administrative fees.
The projection is contained in a budget review presented by Finance Director John Kachingwe, outlining a shift in the town’s revenue mix as traditional streams come under pressure.
Estates, Fees to Drive Growth
Estates are expected to be the major driver, with revenue more than doubling by 136 percent to ZiG351.29 million in 2026 from ZiG148.61 million in 2025.
It will overtake property tax as the single largest income line.
Administrative fees are projected to grow by 70% to ZiG122.31 million, while service charges are set to rise by 22% to ZiG105.83 million, reflecting council’s push to broaden its revenue base.
The optimistic targets, however, mask significant declines in several conventional sources.
Traditional streams under pressure
Property tax, long the anchor of municipal finances, is forecast to decline by 22 percent to ZiG183.83 million from ZiG234.54 million.
Licences and permits are expected to plunge by 62 percent to ZiG14.58 million.
Meanwhile fines and penalties are also projected to fall by 45%.
Rental income is seen declining by 11% to ZiG13.75 million.
Transfers from central government, through Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers, are also expected to dip by 12% to ZiG100.65 million, with other revenue declining sharply by 64% to ZiG1.81 million.
Delivery test for council
The ambitious ZiG894 million target comes at a time when Marondera residents are demanding visible improvement in water supply, road rehabilitation, refuse collection and sewer reticulation.
While the growing reliance on estates underscores the municipality’s bet on land development and sales to shore up its books, analysts warn that such income can be volatile and dependent on market conditions.
Ultimately, the credibility of the 2026 budget will hinge not on projections, but on collection.
With a history of weak debt recovery and low compliance, council will need to tighten enforcement, clean its valuation roll and improve billing efficiency to convert budgeted figures into cash.
For ratepayers, the real measure of success will be whether the projected 25 percent growth translates from the balance sheet into water in taps, tar on roads and refuse trucks on time.
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