Manzini residents to shape 2027/28 municipal budget

MANZINI – Manzini residents and other stakeholders have been invited to influence the city’s development priorities by making submissions to the Municipal Council as it prepares its budget for the 2027/2028 financial year.

Manzini Mayor Xolani Masuku said the municipality remained committed to involving citizens in decision-making to ensure that its programmes and projects responded to the actual needs of residents and other stakeholders.

He was speaking during the 2026 Stakeholder Budget Consultation Meeting held at the Municipal Council Chamber yesterday, where he encouraged ratepayers and other stakeholders to share practical suggestions on how the city’s resources should be allocated.

Director Technical Services Bonginkosi Simelane who is acting Mayor addressing the gathering while Mayor Xolani Masuku sits next to him.(Pic: Timothy Simelane)

Masuku said the consultations were important because they provided members of the public with an opportunity to influence the municipality’s planning and priorities.

“Today, we are gathered to hear your views and priorities as we prepare the budget for the 2027/2028 financial year,” he said.

The mayor said the municipality took the submissions made during such engagements seriously and made efforts to consider them when preparing its budget and planning development projects.

However, he acknowledged that limited financial resources and competing needs could prevent the municipality from accommodating every proposal.

“It may not be possible to include every submission in the budget, due to the limited resources available and other competing needs. However, we always try our best to implement some of the submissions made by stakeholders,” he said.

Thulile Dlamini Msane from Ward 2 appealed to the Municipal Council to be mindful or ratepayers who no longer have the cap[acity to pay rates.

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