By Lovemore Chazingwa
City of Kadoma has proposed a US$37 million budget for 2026 with experts applauding it for its focus on the needs of residents.
The budget directs most of its funding towards capital projects chief among them solarization of Blue Ranges Water Treatment Plant, Waverly Terminus construction and trunk lines rehabilitation.
These projects will consume about US$6 million.
Infrastructure rehabilitation and new projects will take 54 percent of the total budget.
Of the total sum, administrative costs, which have been a contentious issue in many Councils, have been allocated a commendable US$2 million.
Tempering Expectations
Local Government expert and Urban Planner, Percy Toriro commended the budget but warned that the major issue lies in implementation.
“The real issue is to make the budget as practical as possible.
“All stakeholders must monitor the implementation and performance so that there is service delivery improvement.
“The budget is only a plan and a commitment.
“Both council and stakeholders must now work to ensure that results show on the ground.
Toriro said the general trend in local authorities has been a huge operational mismatch between budget proposals and implementation.
“Let’s see service and functional amenities on the council side, then responsible ratepayers paying bills on the other side.
Mayor Celebrates Best Budget In Years
Mayor Nigel Ruzario commended the plan adding that it was the best budget for Kadoma in recent years.
“As City of Kadoma our 2026 budget is people centered.
“All our projects touch base with the needs of our various stakeholders.
“We need to ensure that there’s going to be improvement on the supply of fresh water.
Ruzario said they had deliberately reduced licence fees by 50 percent to attract investors.
“Kadoma should be a commercial zone, hence we envision it to attain commercial capital status in Zimbabwe.
“We feel a dire need to improve on the aesthetics of all old commercial buildings to match city standards.
“Our proposal on upgrading the whole sewer system is that much significant as it is a priority area.
“This budget’s main focus is to meet minimum service delivery standards”, he said.
“This is one of our best budgets so far since it encompasses extensive representative input by the residents, civic groups, industry and commerce.
“Our new approach is to meet stakeholders in their various work spaces.
Resident Disappointment
However, many residents expressed disappointment with the budget formulation process alleging they were not consulted.
One local business player stated that there was not enough publicisation of the budget consultations.
“I last heard that our Ward budget consultative meeting was postponed.
“However, as I was going about my private business, I was disappointed when a colleague informed me that the deferred meeting was underway that day, at Rimuka Hall.
“(This was) without prior knowledge of it through the usual communication channels.
“It appeared as if there was something to hide,” he said, preferring anonymity.
During the public hearing period, City Public Relations Clerk, Nyasha Ndambakurima, distributed a consultative itinerary, which was however, not followed to the letter.
