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By Elvis Dumba
Banket – The proposed 2023 Council budget consultation meeting for Banket, was forced to be postponed as residents demanded council financial records.
Banket Town Board Works Technician, Trust Govere, was forced to stop presenting the local authority’s 2021-22 work projects with those in attendance demanding the presentation of the local authority’s financial reports.
A local businessman, Mac Morgan said the council should avail its financial reports before they start new budget consultation.
“I don’t know why we want to talk about a proposed budget or to get a presentation of your current projects when we do not have an appreciation of your previous budget performance through your financial report,” he demanded.
Another business owner, Roy Linfield, said they cannot be part of a budget proposal that is being carried out against the law.
“I reckon we are here to agree on the proposed 2023 budget but you cannot take today’s minutes to the Minister when we do not have information on how you have used the money we gave you while you cannot present that project’s report. We have no idea where you got the money from and we need to see how you operate based on the last financial report,” he said.
Banket Town Board Administrator, Shelter Ngozo-Chapata, said all council records including minutes of all council meetings are public records that are accessible to anyone for a fee.
“We do avail those council records to anyone who needs them for a fee and anyone is free to approach our offices to get them,” she revealed.
Maria Whitaker said there has been a lot of misinformation and misconceptions about council operations with the council operating in secrecy.
“All this is being inspired by that there are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation on our council as if you are working in secrecy. We need to keep engaging as residents and council. We are surprised that we are told that there have been meetings going on between residents and the council yet we are being left out. I think you need to improve your communication strategy,” she said.
Both parties agreed to postpone the meeting to a later date with the council urged to avail its financial reports to residents before the meeting.
Solomon Tafirenyika said it is puzzling that the council has been failing to publicly avail its both unaudited and audited financial reports for the past three years.