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Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Reporter
Chitungwiza acting town clerk and the public relations officer are splashing US$71 000 on allowances for a Dubai trip, amid deteriorating service delivery in the town.
While the town is battling serious water woes, perennial sewer bursts and uncollected garbage, the acting town clerk Mrs Evangelista Machona and public relations officer Lovemore Meya are said to be scouting for investors in Dubai.
The current acting Chitungwiza town clerk, Dr Tonderai Kasu, acting while the acting town clerk is away, yesterday declined to give exact figures of the trip, although saying their allowances were standard Government rates.
“Our acting town clerk Mrs Machona and public relations officer went to Dubai to look for investors and important projects for the development of the community,” he said.
However, an impeccable source within the council said the two officials allegedly pocketed US$71 000 for their trip.
Chitungwiza Progressive Residents Association secretary-general Gift Kurupati said the local authority was in the wrong hands.
“They only think of looting public funds through these dubious trips. How can they look or convince the Dubai investors when they fail to convince the local investors? Even ratepayers have lost trust in the management,” he said.
Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association acting director Mr Brighton Kanyama said the trip was a misplaced priority.
“The figures in question are too much especially when we are facing the rainy season in wetlands, of which they should be channelling that money for storm water drains.
“Someone decides to use ratepayers money for just a trip to Dubai. I say it is too much, they must use that money for the benefit of service delivery,” he said.
Residents Association of Chitungwiza Trust secretary-general Stanley Makwiramiti condemned the mismanagement and abuse of funds by the council.
Online Reporter