VISET urges council to revise medical fees
MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-The Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET), has called upon the City of Gweru to revise downwards proposed hike in medical fees to make healthcare accessible to everyone.
VISET is an advocacy organization representing informal traders in Zimbabwe.
Speaking during a budget meeting organized in partnership with the Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA), VISET executive director Samuel Wadzai said the local authority’s 2025 proposed budget does not adequately address the needs of Gweru’s low-income communities.
“Our analysis of the proposed budget shows that it does not adequately address the needs of Gweru’s low-income communities. Council has to reduce the astronomical charges on medical consultation and grave fees as we are not going to accept these shocking proposals,” Wadzai said.
Under the 2025 financial plan, the local authority increased consultation fees by 284% for children aged 6-14 and 92% for adults, with drug administration hiked by 476%.
Wadzai emphasized that the 2025 plan should contribute towards improving residents’ access to healthcare and education infrastructure, as the current teacher-to-student ratio in council schools is worrying.
“What we are witnessing are changes that will continue to milk the poor residents who have been toiling day and night to make ends meet.
“It’s shocking that teachers in council schools are responsible for 70% of students without proper learning equipment. Our council needs to address these critical issues,” he said.
Wadzai stated that there is little evidence in the budget indicating an acceleration of the formalization process and infrastructure development in the informal sector.
GRRA team leader Cornelia Selipiwe said the male-dominated council is neglecting issues that directly affect women, such as affordable medical fees and improved health facilities.
“This budget does not reflect a genuine commitment to easing the burden on ratepayers, despite gaining over US$11 million from the previous budget that was added to the fiscus from the recently implemented valuation role,” Selipiwe remarked.
“Council did not do enough in terms of good governance compared to last year. They disregarded civil society in their budget formulation processes, and not much is being done to invest in healthcare,” said Gracia Ndana Mashingaidze, coordinator of the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) in the Midlands province.
According to the draft budget, the local authority is proposing a static budget.
However, the 2025 budget has risen to US$54.9 million, up from US$43 million in 2024.
This increase is attributed to a general valuation roll that updated property market values and included over 12,000 previously unrecorded properties.
The implemented valuation roll has resulted in an additional US$11.9 million in revenue for the local authority.