By Patience Gondo
BEITBRIDGE Town entered 2026 without an approved municipal budget, as the local authority awaits approval from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
Ward 4 Councillor Emmanuel Takutaku told a Public Finance and Management Dialogue convened by the Voluntary Initiative for Social Empowerment and Transformation (VISET) that the delay stems from ministry concerns over the proposed tariffs and rates.
“The ministry said the tariffs were too low and advised us to go back and make amendments. We are still in the process of adjusting the budget and will return to Harare,” Takutaku said.
The VISET workshop, designed to create spaces for citizens to engage in public finance management, allowed residents to ask why council had started the year without an approved budget.
Councillors said certain adjustments cannot be made unilaterally, as budget approval requires consensus among multiple stakeholders, including the ministry and council committees.
“Some changes involve more than just the council; we need to reach common ground with all parties before the budget can be finalized,” Councillor Takavingei Mahachi said.
Under Zimbabwean law, local authorities must submit annual budgets for ministerial approval before implementation.
These budgets outline projected revenues, tariffs and expenditure priorities and form the basis for financial planning and service delivery.
Beitbridge, a key border town and one of Zimbabwe’s busiest commercial gateways, faces ongoing challenges including infrastructure constraints and limited revenue streams.
Councillors said finalizing the budget remains a priority to ensure smooth operations and planning for the year.