The Zomba City Council has approved a whopping MK5.1 billion annual budget for 2023-2024 which has been divided into two categories based on different allocations.
Speaking during an interview, the Chair of Finance Committee for the city council, who is also a councilor for Masongola ward, Anthony Gonani, assured the citizens that they will try as much as possible to fulfill the desired budget through the collection of local revenue, collection of city rates as well as looking forward to money from the central government.
“The budget will help both government and the residents in improving different developmental activities in the city. We have also allocated MK12 million for water funds, MK4.4 million for the youth, as well as MK147 million kwacha in the education sector,” he said.
Furthermore, the Chairperson for the Planning Committee at the city council, Charles Simbani, has asked for collaborative efforts from both sides, saying working together will make the work easy.
Simbani has also assured citizens that as duty bearers, they will keep monitoring infrastructure for the betterment of the people.
“A lot of infrastructure in the city is of a poor standard, including roads and bridges. So this time around, we will work hand in hand with the mayor, making sure that the projects are given to people who produce quality and effective infrastructure rather than having substandard outcomes,” he concluded.
The Mayor of the city has also hinted at the project of identifying youth from different wards in the city to be trained in different technical skills to provide voluntary work for the community when needed.
The local revenue has been pegged at MK1.4 billion, which includes personnel emolument, the education sector, and duty allowance, among others.
On the other hand, MK3.2 billion has been allocated to the construction of city roads, which falls under infrastructure development funds, constituency development funds, water funds, sector funds, and general resource funds.