Budget okayed

Municipal Reporter
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo has approved the Harare City Council budget but has separated the city’s executive salaries from the financial plan.

Minister Chombo was refusing to sign the city’s budget because the city’s directors have not complied with Government directive for local authorities bosses to cap their salaries at $9 000, including allowances.

According to the city’s pay schedule confirmed by Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni the city has 16 grades of employees with town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi earning $21 000 in monthly salary and allowances.

Six grade two employees each earn $19 073,16 while two employees in grade 3 earn $13 622,50

Grade four employees who are 32 are pocketing $10 048, 25. They are also entitled to $18 000 school fees every year if they produce invoices and birth certificates of their children. Grade five employees earn $2 778 while the least paid council employee earns $472.

Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba said the city is overpaying its senior management as reflected by the salary gap between the workers in four and those in grade five.

“This explains why the City of Harare cannot balance the incomes and expenditures. Most of the rates and rentals go into the pockets of employees. Mr Mayor Ben Manyenyeni, residents cannot afford this extravagance in the council,” he said.

Mayor Manyenyeni yesterday confirmed that the city’s budget has been approved minus the executive salaries.

“The Minister (Dr Chombo) has approved our budget but the issue of executive salaries is still outstanding. We feel that we can not be held back over that issue,” he said.

Dr Chombo is now expected to peg salaries for the directors.

During a full council meeting recently former finance committee chairperson Councillor Norman Markham questioned how the city was operating without a budget.

“Are we legally allowed to spend money which has not been approved?” he quizzed.

Rugare/Lochnivar Cllr Peter Moyo said it was illegal for council to operate without a budget.

“How can the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation be implemented without a budget,” he quizzed.

Glen Norah A Cllr Wellington Chikombo said the city needs to be sober when dealing with the matter.

“This budget has gone for months without being approved because executive salaries are on the higher side. Your office (Mayor Manyenyeni) is seized with this matter and you have become selfish to share this information with me as the Human Resources and General Purposes chairperson,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Thomas Muzuva said Minister Chombo cannot approve a budget which is against a Government directive.