Gwanda standstill budget adopted

Cllr Ncube said some of the projects lined up for next year include rehabilitation of roads with $380 000 being allocated towards road rehabilitation activities while $100 000 has been set aside to buy equipment. He said other projects include construction of Hlalani Kuhle Primary School, a sports arena, rehabilitation of the town’s park, construction of new housing rental units and buying standby heavy generators for the pump stations.

Speaking on the performance of this year’s budget, Cllr Ncube said by the end of September they had managed to collect $3, 4 million out of a yearly projected budget of $6, 6 million. He said this means that the municipality had collected 52 percent of their annual budget and 68 percent of the projected budget for nine months.

He appealed to ratepayers to prioritise paying bills to enable council to offer quality services.

Cllr Ncube said debtors owe them $13 million while the municipality owes creditors $9, 8 million. He said the bulk of creditors included Zinwa, Zimra and other statutory bodies.

“The national economic and business environment has been characterised by very poor liquidity. This has negatively affected the municipality’s operations as residents have had very little cash to spend on municipal services. The structural works of our reservoir have been completed. Work has already begun in laying the three kilometre pipeline which shall deliver water to this new reservoir so that it can be tested and commissioned,” he said.

Cllr Ncube said the project would alleviate water challenges in low lying areas. He said the municipality had this year serviced 160 residential stands in a bid to ease accommodation challenges.

Speaking at the budget presentation, the Mayor Cllr Knowledge Ndlovu said the proposed budget now awaits Government’s approval after councillors adopted it.— @DubeMatutu