Gwanda Rural District Council (GRDC) has proposed a US$5.2 million budget for 2024 with tariffs set to increase by 20 percent.
Presenting the proposed budget at a full council meeting last week, council treasurer Sichelesile Ncube said the tariff increase is meant to cover recurring costs such as fuel, vehicle maintenance and salaries.
Shop licence fees are likely to increase from $120 to $144. Grinding mill licence fees will remain at $60 after operators raised concerns that their businesses were not viable.
In mining, stamp fees will increase to $2 400 up from $2000 in the 2023 budget.
Ncube said the development levy which is currently pegged at $2 will increase to $10, “which was a recommendation last time we went to present a budget, we were advised by the Minister who said $2 was too little for meaningful development to be done. So the development levy for 2024 will be $10 .”
She added that in the coming year, the local authority will unveil more residential and business stands.
“There are stands that we are hoping to sell, we are hoping to sell 24 000 square meters at $6.23 per square meter. If the plans are approved, in Manama we are hoping to also sell 138 high-density residential stands at 3000 each. We will also sell 34 business stands and 51 low-density stands.”
“We are hoping to get funding from UNICEF, there are quarterlies we used to receive from monitoring projects, so we are hoping to receive US$12 000. From ZINARA we are expecting US $135 000, these figures are put under USD for now but when we submit the final budget, they will be in RTGS,” said Ncube
Ncube said the RDC will receive ZWL $20.2 billion for devolution in 2024.
“We are hoping to get an income of $5 290 268. The capital expenditure is at $284 000, the major expenditures we want to do are the construction of the CEO’s house, installing solar power at our offices, extending the car park and we also need to buy a service vehicle.
“On WASH our total is $140 757, the expenditure we are expecting is under water services where we will be looking at rehabilitating dams, piped scheme, borehole drilling, five projects that want to be done for water harvesting, we will be doing one per communal land, we will also do two sand abstraction projects,” she said.
Under social services, Ncube said the total expenditure for the year is $1.9 million and they are hoping to finish Umzimunye ECD blocks and purchase school furniture.
“Under health, we are hoping to finish Shanyawugwe clinic and equip mother shelters. We are also hoping to purchase a mobile clinic which will assist in resettlement areas. Under roads, we are expecting an expenditure of $9 019 293. The major expenditure is to buy equipment and software to use, grading of roads in the district,” she said.
Ncube said they will have the final budget after the consultations which will be presented to the full council at the end of October.
