MARTIN MAWAYA
Gweru City Council will this weekend conduct its 2026 budget consultations and has urged women and youth to take advantage of platforms created for inclusive participation.
The local authority has been intensifying awareness campaigns through social media, radio, and traditional media, alongside consultations specifically targeting women and youth.
However, turnout from these groups remains low, raising concerns over the representativeness of civic participation in the city’s financial planning.
Council spokesperson, Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the authority is committed to inclusive planning.
“We continue to encourage residents to participate through all available platforms. This year, we are also holding consultations in community spaces such as schools and marketplaces to improve accessibility,” she said, adding that budgets and their formulation processes are always gender sensitive.
Women’s groups noted that the absence of female voices in budget discussions often leads to service delivery gaps in areas such as water, maternal health, and street lighting.
“Women are the most affected when budgets miss these priorities, yet they are not fully represented in the process,” said Locadia Mavhudzi, a gender advocate.
She added that women risk undermining their own interests if they do not engage in budget consultations and push for gender-sensitive resource allocation.
Mavhudzi highlighted that budget consultations provide an opportune moment for women to speak with one voice, ensuring meaningful resource allocation for key services such as water and health.
She urged the council to also consider AI-assisted online tools for consultations, noting that women, as household burden bearers, may not always be able to attend physical meetings.
“Residents’ associations also come in handy to mobilize communities and ensure effective citizen engagement in the budget cycle,” she added.
Youth organisations have also called for greater engagement.
“Council budgets could do more for youth centres and recreational facilities, but that requires young people to show up and speak out. Most youths are busy hustling or trying to make a living, which means that even after advertising, many view these platforms as non-beneficial because they do not directly bring income,” said Tafadzwa Makore, a youth rights activist.
She added that the absence of youth participation often allows community elders to dominate discussions, advancing priorities that overlook the needs of young people.
The Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) acknowledged the council’s communication efforts but said mobilisation must go beyond information dissemination.
“Our economy is highly informal, so when budget meetings are called, people are often busy fending for their families. This does not mean they did not receive the budget information, they simply prioritize livelihood activities over attending meetings,” said GRRA executive director Cornilia Selipiwe.
He added that deliberate programmes are needed to mobilise women and youth to attend budget consultations.
“Council should also use skits and dramas to highlight the significance of these budgets and help stakeholders identify priorities and contribute effectively,” Selipiwe said, noting that the council has done well to ensure the budget process remains inclusive.
Experts have urged stronger collaboration between civic groups and the council to ensure that marginalized voices, particularly those of women and youth, shape the city’s development priorities.
