Bulawayo City Council unveils 2025 Budget Proposal

By Andile Mvundla

27 September 2024

The Bulawayo City Council has presented its proposed budget for 2025, which addresses the city’s pressing water shortage crisis.

In response to the dwindling water levels at the city’s supply dams and the need for water conservation, the council has proposed suspending free water. While the needy and disadvantaged will continue to receive subsidies, the suspension of free water is aimed at promoting responsible water usage during tight rationing periods.

Speaking during the budget presentation today (yesterday) , BCC chairperson of the finance and development committee Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo highlighted that inorder to fund the rehabilitation of the city’s water infrastructure, the council has introduced a water levy. The proposed levy is US$1 for domestic properties and US$10 for non-domestic properties.

Additionally, a roads levy has been proposed to support the rehabilitation of Bulawayo’s road network. This levy would also be US$1 for domestic properties and US$10 for non-domestic properties.

The 2025 budget proposal, totaling US$309 million, allocates US$82 million (26%) to capital expenditure and US$227 million (74%) to revenue.

Public consultations on the budget proposals revealed mixed reactions. While 62% of participants opposed the removal of free water, 62.5% supported the roads levy, and 65% favored the water levy.