Concern as Gweru council prioritises management’s vehicles over service delivery

GWERU residents have taken the city council to task for prioritising buying brand-new cars for its top management at a time when the local authority is battling to collect garbage and address sewer blockages and potholes.

Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Association director, Pastor David Chikore, said the appetite for flashy trinkets and general extravagance at Gweru City Council is a scourge that has been going on for some time and needs to be nipped in the bud.

“It looks like those vested with the power to steer council to prosperity through proper service delivery have systematically institutionalised greed and self-aggrandisement, resulting in the decimation of service delivery,” he said.

Pastor Chikore said the local authority’s decision to buy luxury vehicles for top officials when the local authority is failing to provide basic is a misguided priority.

“As residents, we find ourselves facing deteriorating service delivery while those charged with the responsibility to serve and busy feeding their egos by demanding contractually guaranteed high-priced vehicles and other benefits at the expense of ratepayers,” he said.

“The crazy trinkets demanded by the town clerk and his directors are anathema when considered in the light of deteriorating service delivery.”

Pastor Chikore said it was worrying to note that two vehicles for directors gobble up US$150 000 while about 350 000 residents continue to endure poor service delivery.

Gweru mayor Councillor Martin Chivhoko said the local authority purchased vehicles for only two of its directors as a way of trying to retain critical staff.

“We bought two vehicles for the director of finance who is the acting town clerk and the director of engineering services as part of their condition of service. As a local authority we have been losing staff due to poor conditions of service,” he said.

Cllr Chivhoko said the local authority is making frantic efforts to increase water pumping capacity at Gwenhoro dam as part of its efforts to improve water supply to residents.

“As you are aware we installed a transformer for our high lift pumps at Gwenhoro water treatment plant. The suppliers of the pumps are on the ground working on them. We have ordered some tar for pothole patching, and expect delivery anytime from now,” he said.