KWEKWE – The $42 billion Kwekwe City Council budget for 2023 which was recently approved by the
Local Government and Public Works Ministry will primarily focus on water, sanitation and hygiene
(WASH) programmes which are crucial to human health and well-being, in line with the National
Development Strategy (NDS 1)
The city’s total budget stands at $42,106,845.47, of which 84 percent ($35, 559,941.44) will come
from own revenue, loans $4,456,820, devolution funds $1,734,926.83, ZINARA $307,538.15 and
Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) of $47,619.05.
The budget was crafted under the theme: “Registering our milestones towards vision 2030.”
Presenting the budget recently, city’s Finance Committee chairperson Councillor Silas Mukaro was
upbeat that the budget will propel maximum service delivery in the city as it left no one behind in
the formulation process and also towards the national vision of Zimbabwe being an upper middle
economy by the year 2030.
Council intends to use $17,155,170 for WASH, $9,627,383 for Social Services, $3,057,021 roads,
Public safety and security $2,343,541, Natural resources and conservation $593,756 and governance
$9,329,972.
Council, he said, did not increase tariffs for services which include fees, penalties, licences, permits
and clinic fees.
“This has been done to ensure affordability, sustainability and access to service for all,” said Cllr.
Mukaro.
“The Council’s budget for the year 2023 was prepared on a cost recovery basis so as to provide
affordable and efficient service to the city. This saw the budget increasing the 2022 service charges
in line with macroeconomic fundamentals.”
Council hiked water tariff by 14 percent to a minimum charge of $0.85 per cubic meter of water.
“Service charges which are computed on cost recovery basis could not remain static due to
increasing production costs. The water service charge modification reflects increases in the cost of
electricity, water treatment chemicals and parts required to repair the water pumping system,” said
the Finance Committee chairperson.
He said the increase in total rates was triggered by property developments and population growth
from 110 000 to 119 893 in 2022.
“In coming up with service charges, council was informed by the need to strike a delicate balance
between sustainable service delivery and the affordability of services.
“As a way of improving the property taxes contribution, the valuation roll will be updated and this
will result in an increase in rates considering the improvements that have taken place in the year
2022.”

The central government has allocated Kwekwe City Council $1,093,083,900.00 for devolution
projects this year.
“This budget has linked all areas right from the provincial plans down to the local plans as it seeks to
address the mantra “Leaving no place and no one behind,” said Cllr. Mukaro.
Despite economic downturns in 2022, Kwekwe City Council managed to build the Mbizo 15 Rates
Hall, procured six Skip Bins, tractor drawn mower, Tipper truck, Front end loader, refurbishment of
four clinics, Ambulance, Ward 14 Clinic construction, Mbizo 21 Classroom block and administration
block, construction of the Woodlands, Mbizo 10, Town inlet and Amaveni pump stations, Installation
of solar street lights and major repairs of tower lights.
Roads which were rehabilitated include Kaguvi Street, Vendors road, Railway Avenue, Burma road
and Kirike road.