The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has proposed to retain its 2026 budget at US$224.7 million, with no increase in rates for residents and stakeholders. Under the proposal, recurrent expenditure has been set at US$157.4 million, while capital expenditure will amount to US$67.2 million. Salaries will account for the largest share at US$80.7 million (35.9%), followed by general expenses at US$55.5 million (24.7%), repairs at US$7.7 million (3.4%), and maintenance at US$13.1 million (6%).
A total of US$70.3 million has been earmarked for the water and sanitation budget, with the council pledging improvements in water supply reliability, pumping capacity, non-revenue water reduction, effluent quality and reclaimed water output. Officials say the focus is on strengthening infrastructure resilience, enhancing efficiency, and upgrading sanitation facilities. The council has also highlighted improvements to public lighting, with plans for a city-wide rehabilitation of streetlights, particularly along major corridors such as Gwanda Road and Cecil Avenue.
Solar-powered streetlights will be introduced on routes including Nketa Drive and Siyephambili to improve reliability and reduce operating costs. In addition, traffic management is set to receive investment, with new cameras, traffic loops and right-turning arrows planned at congestion hotspots and accident-prone sites. High-volume intersections in the city centre will be converted to solar power to ensure uninterrupted operation during power cuts. Roads prioritised for streetlight installation include Harare Road, Plumtree Road, Matopos Road, Solusi Road, Cecil Avenue, Hyde Park to Bellevue, Glengary Mahatshula to Cement Side, and various areas in the CBD, alongside tower light upgrades across the city.
