The Bulilima business community has raised concerns over being left out of the 2024 budget consultations, saying their voices should be heard when key financial decisions are made.

In a meeting held on the 30th of January 2025 by Bulilima Rural District Council, Bulilima Business Association and Bulilima-Mangwe Business Association, business representatives said they felt sidelined and called for better communication in future budget processes.

Chairing the meeting, Councillor Mabhedi Ngulani gave the floor to business owners who expressed their frustrations.

Business Association Chairperson Mitsho Nkomo said poor communication had affected this year’s budget consultation process and called for a clearer and more inclusive approach moving forward.

“As businesses, we contribute to the local economy, but when major decisions are made, we are not properly engaged. This is something that needs to change so that we work together for the development of our district,” said Nkomo.

Alderman Nyathi also raised concerns about the cluster consultation system used in Bulilima, saying it was difficult for some business owners to travel to the designated points. He added that the system weakened the Association’s role in presenting a united position on business matters.

“The way consultations are done makes it hard for everyone to participate fully. We need a system that accommodates all businesses fairly,” he said.

In response, Bulilima Rural District Council CEO Billiat Ngwenya assured the business community that the Council is working on ways to improve service delivery and engagement.

He announced that the Council will soon roll out a mobile licensing and receipting outreach, making it easier for businesses in remote areas to access services without traveling long distances.

“This system will be smooth and efficient, and we will also introduce electronic receipt storage to prevent any issues of lost receipts or corruption. Each business will also be given a code for easy database management,” said Mr L.Muleya Treasurer for Bulilima RDC.

During the discussion, business owners also expressed frustration over the conduct of some municipal inspectors, describing them as unprofessional and disrespectful.The Council acknowledged these concerns and committed to holding customer care and professionalism workshops to improve interactions between inspectors and business owners.

Another key issue raised was the increase in illegal trading, with many business owners saying backyard and home-based shops were affecting their customer base.”Our shops are struggling because there are too many unlicensed businesses operating from homes. We need a plan to address this fairly,” said one business owner.

In closing the Bulilima Rural District Council Chairperson Councillor Land Ndebele highlighted that the meeting had provided a platform for both Council and the associations to iron out arising differences and work towards a healthier future of cooperation punctuated by effective communication by both parties.The meeting ended with an agreement to continue engaging on these issues, with both the Council and the Business Association committing to work together for the benefit of local businesses and the wider community.

All concerns raised were to be discussed at the next Bulilima RDC full council meeting.

Godwin Gumbo