adminOn Wednesday the workers were paid US$100 allowances. They argued the allowances were not enough to pay rent, buy food, meet medical expenses and pay school fees for their children.
One of the workers said they endured a difficult Easter holiday as they could not travel and be with their families.
Mr Makunde said council was failing to pay because residents were not paying their bills. The council is owed over US$30 million by residents who argue that service delivery did not match the amounts they were being asked to pay.
“We owe our employees in excess of US$4,1 million. We have no money. Our residents are not paying their bills. We last paid full salaries in October last year,” said Mr Makunde.
He said council had engaged a financial institution for funding.
“We are in the process of securing an overdraft facility,” he said.
In the interim, said Mr Makunde, council was paying out US$100 to every worker to assist them survive.
Commenting on reports that some workers were manipulating the council’s accounting systems by deleting debts and pocketing money paid for rates, Mr Makunde said since the computerisation of council systems such cases had stopped.
“We now have a new system. There is no bill tampering anymore,” he said.
Online Reporter