The City of Bulawayo’s 2027 budget consultations have exposed significant gaps in public participation, with only 2 619 people attending meetings that considered proposals affecting the city’s residents and businesses.
Presenting the proposed US$440.6 million budget, Finance and Development Committee deputy chairperson Councillor Dumisani Nkomo said the 38 consultation meetings held between October 15 and 24 attracted people representing just 0.4 percent of Bulawayo’s population.
“This figure represents 0.4% of Bulawayo’s population. Council is seriously exploring innovative methods of reaching people,” Nkomo said.
The consultations also revealed widespread opposition to the initial proposals, raising questions about the extent to which residents’ concerns were reflected in the final budget.
On this topic
According to Nkomo, 35 of the 38 meetings rejected the proposed 74 percent tariff increase, while 36 opposed the special roads levy. Thirty-three meetings also rejected the proposed increases in shop licences and the introduction of a public lighting levy.
Only three meetings accepted the proposed tariff increase, including consultations held in Woodville, at the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ) Youth Centre and a separate meeting with women.
Residents proposed alternative increases ranging from 10 to 50 percent, with some suggesting lower roads and lighting levies.
Following the consultations, Council revised its proposals, reducing the overall tariff increase from 74 percent to 62 percent before subsequently adopting a 50 percent increase.
The budget process also highlighted challenges in ensuring inclusive participation. Although separate consultations were held for women, young people and persons with disabilities, attendance at the women’s meeting was particularly low, with only four participants.
Nkomo acknowledged that Council had failed to make budget information available in Braille for residents with visual impairments.
“However, Council could not provide the budget information in Braille for those with visual impairments,” he said.
Council says it intends to improve future consultations through online surveys, sex-disaggregated attendance registers and sign language interpretation.
Leave a Reply