daniel chigunwe
Municipal Reporter
MDC-led Chitungwiza Municipality is on its knees having failed to submit its 2022 budget to Government amid allegations that MDC councillors are demanding luxurious perks to approve it.
Further, despite receiving more than $230 million under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 to rehabilitate 13 roads, Chitungwiza has never completed a single tarred road.
The opposition councillors, who are the majority in council, are allegedly boycotting meetings and victimising management so as to approve their demands including trips, instead of prioritising workers who have a salary backlog of up to eight months.
Harare Provincial Development Coordinator, Mr Tafadzwa Muguti, yesterday confirmed that Chitungwiza was yet to submit its budget and was lagging behind on road rehabilitation.
He has since written to the council to understand why it has failed to submit the budget.
“Today was the deadline for all the local authorities in the province to submit its budget, but Chitungwiza is the only outstanding one.
“Chitungwiza officials are currently on a three-month notice to perform or we advise the central Government to take action,” he said.
Zanu PF Chitungwiza deputy mayor Councillor Kiven Mutimbanyoka confirmed the chaos at town house.
“The town is on a standstill and calls for the central Government to come through and act decisively. Service delivery is on its knees, councillors need to be reminded on what they are supposed to do.
“In terms of roads, we are the worst in Harare, a situation where a Grade 5, Mr Joseph Zenda from the water department is put in charge of road repairs. We have to employ a competent engineer, the director Engineer David Duma is always sick,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Mutimbanyoka said opposition councillors were refusing to be part of the strategic planning workshop and finalising the budget.
“They are giving silly excuses to say the budget is not on the council calendar. We are also supposed to discuss and assess the town clerk’s contract with the Mayor Lovemore Maiko who will then sign it, but it is just a standstill,” he said.
Chitungwiza Progressive Residents Association secretary general, Mr Gift Kurupati said the roads were in bad shape.
He added that the delayed budget lacked the input of residents and has grey areas.
Residents Association of Chitungwiza Trust secretary general Mr Trust Makwiramiti yesterday said it was baffling that the council was failing to repair roads.
“We are surprised that the council was allocated money to do road rehabilitation. They have been patching potholes with gravel which is being washed away by the rains,” he said.
Christian Faith Church Bishop Jonathan Masamba said they were going to meet council officials today to demand an explanation on what is transpiring on the ground.
A source at Town House said business came to a halt when the Government blocked the councillors to splash $10 million on a six-day trip, instead directing the officials to clear its workers’ salary backlog.
“It is now a war to say we will not do anything. The town clerk was told point blank that if she wants the budget approved there is need to convince PDC to allow their trip. Maiko is supposed to call for a special meeting to approve the budget, but is playing dumb.
“He indicates left and turns right. Despite assurances that he will do the job nothing on the ground happens, he does not pitch up when needed. As we speak (Mayor) Maiko is yet to sign the contract of the town clerk,” said the source.
Mayor Maiko is allegedly working in cahoots with Clrs Peter Matiringe (Ward 10), Richard Chamutsa (Ward 5), Chengetai Nyagondo (Ward 14), Tonderai Chiwanza (Ward 6).
Online Reporter