GOLDMAN MUNJOMA…Marondera Residents and Ratepayers Association chairman
By Archford Chirimudombo
MARONDERA-Residents in the farming town of Marondera are not amused by how the local authority has been conducting its 2023 budget consultation process saying that council has not consulted them and other ratepayers enough to get their input.
Chaminuka News is reliably informed that it will be a standstill tariff structure budget. Without consulting residents last month, the council flighted an advert advising them and other ratepayers that the budget had already been crafted and was ready for inspection.
The 2022 budget remains a bone of contention between council and residents as there are many issues that were not ironed out although a verbal agreement had been made to that effect by the two parties.
“Notice is hereby given in terms of Sections 218 & 219 of the Unrban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) and Section 47 of the Public Finance Management Act (Chapter 22:19) that the Municipality of Marondera has commenced its budget consultation processes for 2023 financial year and the standstill tariff structure.
“Proposals on capital & revenue expenditures and the tariff structure are available for inspection from Council’s Main Office (Civic Centre) during normal working hours. Any ratepayer with contributions or objections to the tariffs can lodge his /her objection in writing to the Town Clerk, not later than 30 days from the first publication of this notice,” read the council announcement concerning the budget consultations.
However, Goldman Munjoma who is the Marondera Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Association (MPRRA) chairman took a swipe at council for advertising the budget before agreeing with residents to take that step.
He said: “A few days ago, we were invited by the Finance Director (John Kachingwe) as stakeholders for a meeting as they sought our approval for them to advertise the budget and after some deliberations, we consented. We agreed that we were supposed to meet again for a budget review meeting and discuss about its performance and how consultations were done for the 2023 budget but to our dismay, the meeting did not materialise.
“We are not impressed by the way they are going about with this budget process considering the fact that there has to be ward consultations. Council has to be sincere and stick to promises if it expects full cooperation from stakeholders and residents at large.”
Marondera Residents Open Forum (MAROF) director Tapiwa Chengeta said the council has not been sincere as no meaningful face to face consultations with residents were made as should be the norm.
“This conduct by council is unprofessional, uncalled for and totally out of the provisions of the Urban Councils Act. We expect council to realize that residents own the town and should be respected. They have broken the law many times and can’t be allowed to get away with murder again. We will definitely apply Newton’s laws of motion and council should brace for that,” he added.
