Blessing Nduku
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRAA) and Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) jointly hosted a post-budget review discussion at Oasis last week, commending the City of Gweru (CoG) for its commendable strides in implementing the 2026 budget.
The engagement brought together stakeholders to reflect on progress made so far and discuss areas for further improvement in service delivery and financial transparency.
One of the Mkoba residents revealed how their lives have been positively impacted by the recent purchase of 2 ambulances and the upgrading of the solar system at Mkoba Poly Clinic.
“In as much as we all cry foul over some things done by our Council, I would like to appreciate the good works they have been doing. For instance, we used to have only one functional ambulance, which was operating like an omnibus, but in the year 2025, they managed to purchase 2 ambulances.”
“At Mkoba Polyclinic women would give birth using cellphone torches for lighting at the maternity wing due to an electric fault on the main power line. This has, however, changed, following the upgrading of the solar system at the clinic.”
Residents also say the Gweru City Council has improved communication with regard to budget consultations, employing various modes of communication to disseminate information on budget consultations and also availing Preliminary budgets, along with conducting reviews.
The council has also commendably already sent through its 2024 financial statement of accounts for auditing, which clearly shows how accountable and transparent they are as CoG.
Speaking during the discussion, GRAA Director Mr. Cornelia Selipiwe commended the developments stated by the residents done by CoG.
“We have seen tangible progress in how the CoG is utilizing improvement; we commend the council for the responsiveness they have shown so far.”
The meeting also served as a platform for residents to air concerns and suggest priority areas for the remainder of the financial year, including water provision, road maintenance and refuse collection.
However, on the other hand, residents pleaded with the council to make their council-run clinics accessible for people with disability and also order a hydraulic system ambulance, which makes life easy for them when they request ambulances to ferry them to the hospital.
The joint commendation by GRAA and VISET underscores growing confidence in the City of Gweru’s fiscal management and commitment to inclusive development.
As stakeholders continue to monitor progress, the post-budget review has reaffirmed the importance of transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in driving effective service delivery.
