Harare:  In an attempt to increase citizens' involvement in local governance, six local government authorities have been identified for a pilot project designed to promote the public's participation in the budget-crafting process.

Spearheaded by information dissemination non-governmental organisation, the Zimbabwe Women's Resource Centre and Network (ZWRCN), the introduction of gender budgeting in local government is expected, among other things, to assist communities take ownership of the budget process.

Addressing chiefs, councillors, residents and council officials at the unveiling of findings of a baseline survey conducted in Mutoko district on the gender sensitivity of the local authority's budget, principal administrator in the Ministry of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development Mrs Plaxidicia Chirongoma lauded the council for its highly participatory budgetary process.  "Mutoko Rural Council has been included in this first-of-its-kind pilot project on gender budgeting on the strength of its highly participatory budgetary process. Gender budgeting ensures that the council's resource allocation is responsive and inclusive of the community's needs. Being in this pilot project has put Mutoko a step ahead of the other authorities," said Mrs Chirongoma.

The six local authorities include the urban ones of Bulawayo, Gweru, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Masvingo, and the sole rural Mutoko Rural District Council. The objectives of the baseline survey in the six districts included gaining an understanding of the budget planning process at local government level and identifying the key decision-makers.

"The survey also sought to assess the quantitative and qualitative degree of participation and representation of women and vulnerable groups within the council and the community.  We also sought to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices in gender responsive planning and budgeting in local government," said ZWRCN programme officer Mrs Eleanor Maeresera.

She said the survey also helped identify local government officials' needs on gender budgeting and priority areas of women and vulnerable groups in communities and how resources are allocated to these areas.

Council chief executive officer Mr Peter Sigauke said while the findings of the survey showed poor participation of the community in the budget planning process, most councils had been operating under shoestring budgets that made it difficult to manoeuvre in service delivery.  The baseline survey revealed that although there was a high knowledge level on the budget planning process (97 percent amongst council officials, and 96 percent for councillors), there was a low knowledge level and involvement within the community.

The survey found that while water and clinics (maternal and primary healthcare) were high on women's key priorities in terms of service delivery, it was a different ball game for men whose top priorities were housing, roads and communication services.  Orphans and vulnerable children's top priorities were free education and health services.