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Pre-Budget Report of the Town House meeting
Harare Residents Trust (HRT)
October 25, 2010

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1. Introduction:
The City of Harare held a pre-budget consultative meeting at Town House to receive the input of stakeholders about the 2011 City Budget. Stakeholders had to highlight their major expectations in the forthcoming budget, reviewing the successes and failures of the 2010 City Budget, and making recommendations on how best to improve on weaknesses and harmonise the interests of the City and the residents. Among the stakeholders present for the consultation were the Harare Residents' Trust (HRT), the Combined Harare Residents' Association (CHRA), Senior Citizens, the Public Transport Organisation (PTO) and the Commuter Omnibus Operators Association of Zimbabwe (COOAZ)

1.1. Welcome Remarks:
Josephine Ncube, the City's Chamber secretary, welcomed all stakeholders with their respective organizations and introduced the Council officials Mr. Mutimkulu, Ward 9 Councilor Stewart Mutizwa, the City Treasurer Mr Misheck Mubvumbi, Director of Engineering Services Engineer Philip Pfukwa and Director of Waste Management Dombo Chibanda.

2. Agenda:

2.1. City Treasurer's Summary Report and Expectations in the 2011 Budget
2.2. Reports from the stakeholders

3. City Treasurer's Report:

• Income of US$226 million, expenditure of US$138 million should be spent by 31 December 2010.
• It is estimated that US$202 million would be collected by end of year
• The City of Harare had a Capital budget of US$275million in 2010 and US$10 million has been spent.
• Government previously gave loans sourced from international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to local authorities, including Harare but this has ceased.
• Underperformed Departments: Water and Sanitation by US$12million, Refuse US$6million, and Rates US$2million.
• Performing Departments: Hospital US$1,1million and Shop Licenses
• Creditors: The City owes its trade suppliers an amount of US$300 000 and US$24 million in payroll deductions to the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and the Pay As You Earn to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), has an overdraft of US$2,8 million and US$51million in rates, refuse and supplementary charges. Residents owe the City, US$77 million in water consumption. The city is owed a total of US$128 million.
• Previously Central Government issued the City of Harare grants, covering health, public safety and per capita grant for education especially in the high density areas, but in the last decade has not done so, burdening the council with resource mobilization.
• On the building of schools the government is failing to give capital grants for education and the Council deals with the issuing of stationery in Council schools
• In 2006, government, through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), under the Minister of Water Resources, took control of water and sewerage and inherited the workforce. This was reversed in 2009 when sewer reticulation and water management was returned to the City of Harare, together with the workforce that had transferred to ZINWA.
• The City of Harare is urging residents to pay up their bills so that they can clear their debts. Unfortunately, residents feel the bills are beyond their reach and doubt if they will be able to repay the full amounts.

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Contact the HRT on 0772869 294/ 0772771860 or email us on hretrust@yahoo.com

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