The Zomba City Council has projected a budget requirement of approximately K13.8 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year
The disclosure was made during a budget consultation meeting with residents and key stakeholders, aimed at gathering public input on priority development areas to be included in the upcoming budget.
Speaking at the meeting, the Council’s Director of Finance, James Mafunga, said the central government is expected to provide K10.5 billion, while the remaining K3.2 billion is projected to be raised through local revenue sources, including taxes.
Mafunga expressed concern over low tax compliance, noting that poor revenue collection continues to hinder the council’s ability to effectively carry out its responsibilities.
“The council is considering increasing city rates, business licence fees, and rental charges in order to improve revenue collection” He said.
He further revealed that in the 2025/2026 financial year, the council had projected to collect over K7 billion in revenue, but so far has managed to collect just over K5 billion, representing about 70 percent of the target.
Meanwhile, Dr. Clement Chilima, a retired Director of Forestry, commended the council for engaging residents and stakeholders in the budget consultation process.
He described the exercise as crucial, emphasizing that city residents are directly affected by development decisions.
“Going forward, the council should continue engaging the public, including during the implementation phase, by providing updates to those involved in the planning process. We look forward to more meetings, and the city should take into account the concerns raised by residents” he said.
During the meeting, participants raised several key concerns, including the rehabilitation of police cells, improved road maintenance across the city, and the installation of street lights on various roads.
