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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THIRTY-NINE members of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games local organising committee secretariat were yesterday finally paid $1,300 each in outstanding allowances.While the local organising committee chairperson Khonzani Ncube could not immediately confirm the development, demanding questions in writing as she was not in office, a source within the local organising committee confirmed that slightly over $52,000 was deposited into the committee’s account for immediate payment to the 39 members of the secretariat who worked during the games in December.
“Direct your questions to the Minister or bring them in writing but at the moment I’m out of office so that will mean I can only respond to them tomorrow,” said Ncube yesterday.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa confirmed that a deposit to pay part of the staff was made while the next batch will receive theirs soon.
“I can’t give an exact time but some have been paid. The money was deposited, yes,” said Minister Langa.
The source said a memo from the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture directed that only the 52 members of the secretariat should be paid their allowances, leaving out the rest of the members of the support staff, some of whom had been part of the committee since June last year and others November 2013.
“We believe the letter came from the parent ministry’s finance department. It states clearly who should be paid,” said the source.
Minister Langa is on record saying the government will honour its obligation to pay all its creditors.
The Ncube-led committee reportedly owes its creditors that also include some of the contractors for the venues used during the December 2014 Games here in Bulawayo more than $500,000.
Meanwhile, Ncube also referred enquiries on the start of the audit process to Minister Langa.
Online Reporter