THE joint SACN/World Bank/PPIAF study into municipal finances for infrastructure in the SADC region has been progressing steadily. So far, the team has visited Gaborone. Windhoek, Lusaka, Ndola, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Dar er Salaam and Arusha. In these cities, a comprehensive determination of the creditworthiness was undertaken, which included a look at the financials, strategic infrastructure and other plans, as well as personal interaction with the municipal officials. In Lilongwe, which has been identified as a site with ongoing and reform and having a high potential for further financial reforms, a successful one day financial capacity building exercise was carried out. It was attended by all senior officials in the municipality, including the new CEO of the council Mr Kelvin Mmaitsa. Generally, the study is revealing a wealth of financial and other important information regarding these municipalities. It has however also been a sobering reminder of the enormous challenges that are being faced by all SADC municipalities. The capacity of these municipalities to raise sufficient capital for their infrastructure needs is low, alarmingly so given the huge backlogs they face. It is clearly emerging that at the heart of any reform agenda going forward needs to be a concerted effort towards creating greater capacity of these municipalities around financial management including revenue collection and budgeting.   

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