In partnership with the Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe (LEDRIZ), VISET convened a Public Finance Management (PFM) teach-in on the 27th and 28th of August 2025 in Beitbridge. The event sought to facilitate discussions among local authorities and community stakeholders on the challenges associated with revenue collection, service delivery, and infrastructure in the municipality, with the first day targeting the elected officials and Community Health Promoters. The second day was focused on training of residents and informal traders, through collaboration with the Beitbridge Progressive Residents and Rate payers Development Trust (BPRRDT).
Session Highlights
The first day of the session included discussions with Beitbridge Municipality management, led by Mayor Cllr Peter Pirato and Deputy Mayor Cllr John Manatsa. They were joined by other councillors, representatives from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small-to-Medium Enterprise Development, and community health promoters. Some key highlights that emerged from the discourse included:
Revenue Disparity – Both local authority representatives and residents voiced the concern that revenue generated at the Beitbridge border post is not benefitting the local community. Instead, these funds are distributed among various agencies stationed at the border and ultimately sent to the Capital City. The local authority has engaged with the government to address this critical issue and ensure that local revenues are directed to community development.
Water Supply Challenges – Water access remains a significant challenge in Beitbridge, exacerbated by a legacy debt to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA). Informal trader markets are particularly affected, lacking any water supply. Councillors committed to investing in temporary solutions, such as installing water storage tanks, to alleviate the situation.
Sewer Connection Issues – Residents in new housing developments are reportedly contributing to the spread of diseases due to their refusal to connect to a recently installed sewer line. Many are resorting to improper waste disposal methods, such as using plastic bags. The local authority recognized the need to ramp up enforcement measures, and BPRRDT pledged to conduct awareness campaigns to educate residents about the importance of connecting to sewer services.
Informal Trader Security – Informal traders raised concerns about the temporary licenses they are issued by the Municipality, which leave them vulnerable due to their lack of secure, permanent spaces and basic infrastructure. They expressed fears about the reinvestment of their license fees, citing a lack of visible benefits that could uplift their economic status and reduce their vulnerability to evictions.
Commitment to Action
The meeting concluded with an agreement to work collaboratively to ensure meaningful progress on the identified challenges. The importance of cooperation between community members, elected councillors, and other representatives in addressing PFM-related issues was emphasized by all the stakeholders and the following action points were agreed.
Agreed Action Points
1. Engagement with Government Officials: The local authority will engage with government officials to discuss the equitable distribution of revenue generated from the border post, advocating for a system that channels a fair share of resources back into the Beitbridge community.
2. Temporary Water Solutions: Councillors will explore the immediate implementation of temporary water storage tanks at informal trader markets to alleviate current water supply challenges while long-term solutions are sought.
3. Disease Prevention Campaign: BPRRDT, in collaboration with the local authority, will launch awareness campaigns targeting residents about the importance of connecting to sewer lines to prevent disease outbreaks, bolstering community health.
4. Reinforcement of Licensing Regulations: The local authority will review and strengthen the licensing framework for informal traders to ensure better security of their trading spaces and visible reinvestment of license fees into infrastructure that supports their businesses.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms: A monitoring system will be established to track progress on the implementation of agreed action points, ensuring accountability and fostering ongoing dialogue among all stakeholders.
