Ministry Approves Chinhoyi Municipality’s 2026 Budget

By Denis Kagonye

Chinhoyi Municipality’s 2026 budget has been officially approved by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, paving the way for the local authority to implement its financial plans amid growing pressure to improve service delivery.

The approval, communicated in a letter dated 29 January 2026, is subject to strict conditions, including the liquidation of salary arrears within the first quarter of the year and the optimum use of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to improve revenue generation and collection.
Finance and Economic Development Chairperson, Councillor Arnold Muronga, said the approval marked an important step for the municipality but cautioned that compliance would be closely scrutinised.
“The approval of the 2026 budget is a significant milestone for Chinhoyi Municipality. 

However, it comes with clear conditions that we must meet, particularly on settling salary arrears and strengthening revenue collection systems,” said Councillor Muronga.
He said council was committed to ensuring the approved budget delivers tangible benefits to residents.
“We are prioritising the liquidation of salary arrears in the first quarter of 2026, while fully utilising the ERP system to enhance revenue performance. 

This is critical for improving service delivery across the town,” Muronga said.
Residents have cautiously welcomed the development, saying approval of the budget must now translate into visible improvements on the ground.
Chinhoyi resident Dan Chitanda said the announcement would only be meaningful if council follows through on its commitments.
“We have heard about budgets being approved before, but the real issue is implementation. 

Residents want to see better roads, water supply and refuse collection, not just figures on paper,” said Chitanda.
Chinhoyi Residents Chairperson Tendayi Musonza said the conditions set by the Ministry should be used as a tool to restore accountability at council.

“The Ministry’s conditions are very clear, and as residents we will be watching closely. The settlement of salary arrears and improved revenue collection should ultimately result in better services for ratepayers,” said Musonza.
He added that residents expected regular updates from council on how the budget was being implemented.

The Ministry has indicated that compliance with the set conditions and other governance issues will be monitored on a quarterly basis throughout 2026.

The approval of the 2026 budget comes at a time when Chinhoyi Municipality is under pressure to balance financial stability with increasing demands for improved service delivery - Deekay Media services