Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube | Zim GBC News
BULAWAYO – The City of Bulawayo has concluded a year marked by budgetary hurdles, significant strides in service delivery, and the launch of a new digital-forward strategy, according to the Acting Mayor’s annual review.
In his end-of-year message, Acting Mayor, His Worship Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, acknowledged a difficult start to 2025 but expressed optimism for the coming year.
“The City experienced a slow start to 2025, with one of the major challenges being the delay in the approval of the annual budget,” Ndlovu stated.
“Going into the next year, the City is hopeful that we will not encounter the challenges experienced this year, which will enable us to implement our programmes timely and without hindrance.”
Financial Stability and a Plea for Payments
The Acting Mayor commended the central government for achieving currency stability through the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), calling it key to the City’s planning. However, he issued a strong appeal for the settlement of over ZWG 2 billion in unpaid bills owed by residents, commerce, and government departments.
“For Council to efficiently deliver services, we call on all stakeholders to settle their bills. If we clear the over ZWG 2 billion owed to the City of Bulawayo, we can go far in the development of our city,” Ndlovu urged.
Service Delivery: Health, Sanitation, and Emergency Excellence
Highlighting achievements, Ndlovu pointed to enhanced primary healthcare, including a US$110,000 donation of equipment from the Government of Korea and the reintroduction of a voucher system for vulnerable pregnant women.
In urban sanitation, the City commissioned four new refuse compactors and hired additional units.
“Maintaining a clean city is a collective responsibility, and we urge all residents to work together to keep Bulawayo clean,” he said.
The City’s Fire and Ambulance section was hailed as a “beacon of excellence,” with 2025 seeing a historic milestone.
“We trained 35 firefighters from six rural local authorities,” Ndlovu revealed.
“This initiative marks a significant shift in national emergency services.”
Combating Illegal Vending and Empowering Informal Trade
Addressing the persistent issue of illegal vending, the Acting Mayor welcomed proposed interventions by the central government for relocation. He also detailed efforts to formalise and empower the informal sector, including a draft MSME policy and the renovation of the Dugmore Offices as a one-stop trading hub.
“The City recognises the importance of capacitating informal traders to realise their full potential,” he said.
Building a “Smart and Sustainable City by 2030”
A central pillar of the message was the unveiling of the new Corporate Strategy (2026-2030), guided by the vision “City of Kings: A Smart and Sustainable City by 2030.”
“Digital transformation is not just the future, it is the present,” Ndlovu declared. He outlined ongoing integration of e-governance, including partnerships with nine financial institutions for digital bill payments and the installation of CCTV cameras through a smart parking partnership.
“We will continue implementing cost-effective strategies that align with our smart and sustainability agenda, including the installation of solar-powered streetlights,” he added.
Persistent Challenges: Roads, Water, and Housing
The Acting Mayor did not shy away from ongoing challenges, citing the city’s road network which requires approximately US$700 million for full rehabilitation. On water, he expressed hope that current rains would replenish dams and highlighted a new strategy to reduce non-revenue water losses from 48% to 25% by 2030.
On housing, while 975 serviced stands were delivered in 2025 against a waiting list of 144,000, Ndlovu said it “demonstrates the City’s commitment to providing housing at a time when funding models have changed.”
Inclusion, Youth, and Local Business Focus
The City highlighted its focus on social inclusion, noting the distribution of micro-grants to 18 youth-led climate projects and the adoption of a unified pro-poor policy. Ndlovu also called on local businesses to engage more actively in City procurement processes.
“We encourage local businesses to familiarise themselves with procurement laws and regulations so that they can submit winning bids. When local companies do business with the City, it promotes local economic development,” he said.
Concluding, the Acting Mayor said 2025 had been a busy year with concerted efforts to improve services, aligning the City’s new strategy with the national development agenda.
“The City of Bulawayo wishes you all a prosperous New Year,” he said.
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