THE Municipality of Kariba has unveiled its 2026 proposed budget, with a focus on enhancing service delivery and infrastructure development to promote tourism, investment and community well-being.
The budget, presented by ward 6 councillor and chairperson of the finance committee, George Masendu, aims to achieve the council’s vision of becoming an ultimate tourist destination embedded in a thriving community by 2030.
“In order for us to achieve a status of an ultimate tourist destination embedded in a thriving community by 2030 as Municipality of Kariba, our 2026 budget theme is Enhancing Service Delivery and Infrastructure Development to Promote Tourism, Investment, and Community Well-being,” he said.
The budget highlights include improving water, sanitation and hygiene through rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, including procurement of water and sewer pumps, and water and sewer pipe network replacement.
This will benefit the residents and the community at large.
To support local economic development, the council has created and surveyed stands at Nyamhunga (Bukuta) Home Industry, which have been offered to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Payments for the title surveyed stands are ongoing.
The council also plans to improve social services infrastructure, including the construction of additional blocks for Nyanhewe Primary School, a science laboratory for Mahombekombe Secondary, and the construction of Batonga polyclinic.
- Drones to map Kariba’s water, sewage systems
- Kariba unveils 2026 tariff structure
- Kariba unveils ambitious 2026 budget
Keep Reading
In partnership with the office of the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution, council hosted the third Mashonaland West investment conference, which attracted potential investors for Mopani Bay and Andora Harbour.
“Council aspires to ensure that Mopani Bay has developed into a multi-tourist destination site that contains state-of-the-art infrastructure in the form of hotels, conference centre and other tourism related ancillaries,” Masendu said.
The council aims to complete the Kasese outstanding works in early 2026 and has engaged a consultant to superintend over the project execution of outstanding works.
To improve infrastructure, the council intends to construct access roads for Jumbo, Observation Point and Andora Harbour commercial stands.
The municipality has also reduced rates in high and low-density residential areas to improve affordability for ratepayers.
Furthermore, the council has reduced water charges per kilo-litre from US$0,74 to US$0,70 for high and low density, and from US$0,90 to US$0,86 for commercial, industrial, prepaid water meters.
The council also intends to install 220 solar street lights to improve public lighting and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
The 2026 budget estimates total revenue of ZiG573 613 939,43, with a surplus of ZiG2 056,75.
Masendu emphasised the importance of collaboration, saying: “We need to work together in the implementation of this budget in order for us to be an ultimate tourist destination embedded in a thriving community by 2030 and for Zimbabwe to be a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society by 2030.”
