By Nokuthaba Dlamini
VICTORIA Falls Municipality will this Monday begin the process of soliciting resident`s input into the 2021 council budget.
The notice was issued on Thursday last week stating: “Notice is hereby given that Victoria Falls Municipality will conduct the 2021 budget stakeholders meetings from 17 August 2020 to 21 August 2020. The public is therefore advised to take note of the dates and attend respectively…”
Ward 1 and 3 will meet at 10 AM at Council main office followed by Ward 2 and Business Community at 1PM in the same venue.
On Tuesday Ward 4, 5, 6 and 7 will also meet at Chinotimba Halls between 10AM and 1PM.
Ward 8, 9 and 10 will also convene the following day at the same venue.
On Thursday Ward 11B and C will meet at 10 AM at Chamabondo Primary School.
Women and Special Interest (youths) group will also convene on Thursday between morning and afternoon at Council chamber while Ward 11A will conclude the meeting at Chamabondo Primary school on Friday afternoon.
The Town Clerk Ronnie Dube urged residents to attend the meetings citing that Council has been operating under severe strain.
“This is a statutory requirement and it is also good to have people’s input stating how they will want the budget to be presented, their needs and expectations,” Dube said.
“We have had so many pressures from people calling us to reverse the budget after accusing us of failing to consult, so to avoid that, people should attend these meetings and have their say.
“We have been severely affected by the economic situation in the country and Covid-19 and our service delivery has not been as fluent so this budget will be based on figures that will maintain a minimum service delivery possible until the capital expenditure returns back to normal.”
To observe the Covid-19 regulations, Council said participants will be allowed in the venue on a first come first serve basis and the maximum numbers will be 50.
Council added that only participants wearing masks will be allowed in after sanitizing and maintaining social distancing.
