City forks out US$988 to rescue stranded mayor

Thaba Moyo who was stranded in Harare without bus fare.
Mayor Moyo was part of a delegation that had gone on a five-day World Bank-sponsored study tour in Ghana, which ended on 11 March this year.
On his arrival at the Harare International Airport, he reportedly discovered that the organisers had not made provisions for him to travel to Bulawayo and he had to send an SOS to the council.
Mayor Moyo did not have money for overnight accommodation in Harare.
According to the latest council report, the local authority was supposed to only take care of incidental expenses for the trip.
“The mayor was included in this delegation and all costs, except incidental allowances were supposed to be met by the World Bank.
“The Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development (Ignatius Chombo) and the Minister of Water Resources Development and Manage-ment, (Samuel Sipepa Nkomo) also participated in the visit to Ghana.
“The ministry organising the trip, however, had only forwarded a ticket for the mayor’s trip from Harare to Ghana and back to Harare.
“In the circumstances, it was left to council to fork out US$988 for the mayor’s transportation to and from Harare.
“The money also covered accommodation for himself and his driver, subsistence, fuel and incidental allowances,” reads part of the report.
After the money had been dispatched, councillors sought authorisation from council for the expenditure.
This was granted at a general purposes committee meeting on March 18.
Mayor Moyo yesterday said, “They arranged for my chauffer to pick me up and gave us money for hotel accommodation.
“All-in-all, it was a pleasant trip.”
Deputy Mayor Amen Mpofu said council should put its act together to avoid such embarrassing incidents.
“This is not the first time we have had such trips. We all know where the coverage of expenses ends so provisions should have been made to ensure smooth travelling for the mayor.”
He said the awkward situation reflected badly on the entire council.
“It is unfortunate really for residents to read that the mayor was stranded. It shows that we, as a council, are failing to plan.
“We need to correct this and avoid putting council representatives in difficult positions when they are executing their duties,” he said.