THE Chitungwiza Municipality has proposed a US$39 million budget for 2025, prioritising water, sanitation and hygiene as the town grapples with a severe water crisis.
Many residents have no access to clean water.
The budget, themed “Re-engineering Service Provision in Chitungwiza”, will be funded through US$4,2 million allocated by the Government under the devolution programme and US$34,8 million expected from the town’s own revenue-generating initiatives.
Presenting the budget on Thursday, Chitungwiza Municipality’s finance and development committee chairperson Councillor Peter Matiringe said the budget seeks to enhance service delivery by improving the quality, accessibility and responsiveness of municipal services.
The budget, he said, focuses largely on water and sanitation, road infrastructure development, public safety, social services and environmental conservation.
“The proposed budget for the 2025 financial year is projected to be US$39 million and ratepayers will be allowed to pay their bills at the prevailing interbank exchange rate,” he said.
“The budget consists of intergovernmental transfers worth US$4,2 million and own funding worth US$34,8 million.”
About US$17 million will be directed towards water, sanitation and hygiene programmes, while more than US$3,4 million will go towards road development.
The local authority is also proposing spending about US$4 million on public safety and security services, while an additional US$7,9 million will go towards provision of social services.
Said Cllr Matiringe: “The Government has allocated ZiG105 million from devolution funds for the 2024 financial year.
“A total of ZiG7 million was allocated as an operational grant and ZiG98 million was allocated as a capital grant.
“Since we were not able to complete the rehabilitation of sewer lines in the 2024 financial year, I am proposing to roll over the project into the 2025 financial year using devolution funds.
“I am also proposing to use operational grant to rehabilitate our halls and to finance software licences.”
The town is proposing levying US$6,61 a month per household for sewer reticulation, US$4,04 for refuse collection and US$3,53 as the fixed water charge.
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