Elderly Applaud City of Mutare’s Door-to-Door Budget Consultations but Call for Stronger Follow-Up

By Evans Jona

MUTARE — The Zimbabwe Senior Citizens Association (ZSCA) has welcomed the Mutare City Council’s new door-to-door budget consultation exercise, describing it as a groundbreaking effort to make civic participation more inclusive, especially for the elderly who are often sidelined in public decision-making.

The 10-day outreach programme, launched last Friday by the City of Mutare in partnership with the United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT) and other civic groups, marks the first time the local authority has adopted a grassroots approach to its budget process.

According to Town Clerk Mr Blessing Chafesuka, the consultations aim to reach at least 20,000 residents, a significant jump from the 4,000 to 5,000 people who participated last year.

“We are taking the process to the people. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, including the elderly, women, youth, and people with disabilities, has an opportunity to speak out on the services and priorities they want the city to focus on,” said Mr Chafesuka.

Enumerators wearing green vests labeled UMRRT Enumerator have been deployed across all wards, collecting feedback using electronic data forms. Mr Chafesuka emphasized that the enumerator team includes members from various organizations to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and representation.

He said the initiative was designed to address past challenges where many residents missed public consultation meetings due to lack of awareness, distance, or time constraints.

“A participatory budget reflects the real needs of our communities. When people see their contributions reflected in council programmes, they begin to appreciate the importance of paying rates and supporting development projects,” added Chafesuka.

The Zimbabwe Senior Citizens Association (ZSCA) praised the city’s approach as “a positive and inclusive initiative,” particularly for older residents who often struggle to attend public meetings due to health and mobility issues.

“This method brings consultations directly to people’s homes, which means the elderly can finally be heard where they live,” the association said in a statement.

However, ZSCA stressed the need for stronger follow-through to ensure that the views collected from households translate into actual policy and budget priorities.

“The listening process must lead to tangible results. Senior citizens want to see their concerns reflected in real service improvements,” the association noted.

ZSCA urged the city to prioritize issues specific to pensioners and elderly households, including access to clean water, affordable healthcare, pension-friendly tariffs, and housing maintenance support.

The association also recommended the establishment of a dedicated elderly affairs budget line and periodic updates on how senior citizens’ needs are being addressed.

While applauding the initiative, ZSCA pointed out that more targeted communication and follow-up are still needed. Some elderly residents remain unaware of the purpose of the consultations or feel hesitant to fully share their views with enumerators.

“Many older citizens still lack confidence or understanding of how their input will be used. Council should work closely with senior citizens’ associations to improve awareness and provide feedback on outcomes,” said a ZSCA representative.

The door-to-door consultations will continue across all wards until next week, after which the City of Mutare will compile the feedback and draft a 2026 budget that reflects community priorities.

Mr Chafesuka reiterated council’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and participatory governance, saying no resident, regardless of age or circumstance, should be left behind in shaping Mutare’s future.

“This process belongs to the people of Mutare. We encourage everyone to participate freely. Together, we can build a city that truly reflects the voice of its citizens,” he said.

As the consultations progress, senior citizens like those represented by ZSCA say they feel more seen and valued, but hope that their voices will not only be heard, but acted upon.

“This initiative gives us hope,” said a ZSCA spokesperson. “Now we need to see results that prove our voices truly matter.”