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He reportedly gets US$1 000 for other necessities as part of the allowances.
Each member of the team gets 100 litres of fuel weekly.
The allowances are higher than what the minister directed on their appointment.
In a letter to Chitungwiza Municipality last month, the minister said: “Following the appointment of the resuscitation team effective 27 January 2012 for a period of three months, I hereby direct council to pay the following fees to the resuscitation team on monthly basis until expiry of their term of office — chairperson (US$12 000), vice chairperson (US$11 000) and committee members (US$10 000).
Yesterday, Mr Mbetsa denied earning US$26 000, saying on top of the US$12 000 prescribed by Minister Chombo, he was only getting US$4 000 more to make it US$16 000.
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He confirmed council was paying him US$2 000 after every 10 days for his accommodation at a Harare hotel.
Mr Mbetsa further denied getting entertainment allowances, but confirmed council was giving him US$20 everyday in cellphone allowances.
This translates to US$100 weekly.
He said he was getting US$100 a day in out of pocket allowances in line with council rates.
When further asked on other benefits he was getting, he became furious: “The bottom line is let me go back to Mutare. I did not offer myself (for the job).”
Earlier, Mr Mbetsa had indicated that the resuscitation team comprised professionals such as lawyers, chartered accountants and labour consultants who deserved the payments as they are paid professional fees.
When asked whether it was logical to pay such amounts considering that Chitungwiza was in financial difficulties, he said: “I am not the minister and you cannot ask me that question in all fairness.”
The team’s appoinment followed reports of corruption and criminal dereliction of duty by the previous administration led by suspended town clerk Mr Godfrey Tanyanyiwa who is now facing criminal abuse of office charges in the courts.
After getting information on the resuscitation team’s allowances, workers have issued a strike notice.
They have since written to Mr Mbetsa, who is doubling as chairperson of the resuscitation team and acting town clerk, notifying him of their intentions.
He dismissed the threat as illegal and said council was in the process of paying the workers “right now”.
In the letter, one of the reasons for the industrial action is “abuse of office by claiming exorbitant and unsustainable allowances by the resuscitation team”.
They also cite the unilateral scrapping of negotiated allowances and non-payment of salaries for January and February this year.
The resuscitation team was given a three month mandate to investigate and turnaround the fortunes of Chitungwiza, including such measures as cost-cutting.
Recently, the team announced that it had implemented cost-cutting measures which included cutting workers’ allowances and that saw it saving over US$800 000.
Under the committee, council has started repairing roads, cutting grass and collecting refuse.
Online Reporter