Bulawayo to Use ZWG176 Million Devolution Funds for New Municipal Fleet

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has outlined plans to allocate its ZWG176 million devolution funds toward purchasing a fleet of 144 vehicles and plant equipment from a Belarusian supplier. This initiative is aimed at improving key municipal services in the city.

The procurement list includes a variety of essential machinery and vehicles such as tractors, front loaders, disc mowers, ploughs, rakes, balers, trailers, water tanks, garbage trucks, dump trucks, and emergency response vehicles. The total cost of the project, in foreign currency, is estimated at US$7.5 million.

Devolution funds, provided by the central government, are intended to enhance service delivery in financially strained local authorities. These funds have already contributed to several community projects nationwide, such as the construction of schools, healthcare centers, and road infrastructure. In Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb, for example, part of the devolution budget was previously used to establish Vulindlela Primary School to address overcrowding.

According to recent council records, the BCC’s Works Department recommended utilizing devolution funds to acquire much-needed equipment to improve service delivery. The council intends to take advantage of an existing trade agreement between Zimbabwe and Belarus—the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Trade and Economic Co-operation—which provides favorable procurement terms.

“The Zimbabwe-Belarus MoU presents an opportunity for the city to acquire high-quality resources and technical expertise vital for service enhancement. The 2025 devolution budget for Bulawayo is set at ZWG176,353,600,” noted the council minutes.

By directing these funds toward equipment procurement, the council aims to align with budgetary requirements while streamlining the acquisition process through the existing bilateral agreement.

To execute the plan, BCC engaged AFTRADE DMCC, a private Belarusian agency, which submitted a quotation totaling US$7,506,977. Acting Director of Public Works, Engineer Methusi Dibidi, stated that sourcing the equipment from Belarus aligns with the government-to-government trade agreement, making the process more efficient compared to other suppliers.

“This strategy ensures a smooth procurement process while guaranteeing equipment tailored for African conditions, offering durability and effectiveness for local operations,” said Eng. Dibidi.

He added that the procurement package includes maintenance support during the warranty period and specialized training for council staff on operating the machinery. Training sessions will take place at the supplier’s service center in Harare.

After deliberation, the council approved the proposal to use devolution funds for acquiring the necessary municipal equipment.

“The Works Department has been authorized to allocate ZWG176,353,600 from the 2025 devolution budget for purchasing critical vehicles and machinery from Belarus,” the council minutes confirmed.

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