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The workers are accusing the new management team of failing to deliver and treating them as “slaves”.
Gokwe Town is run by an interim team after the Government suspended town secretary Mr Tapiwa Marongwe and the chairman Councillor Darlington Mudondo over allegations of corruption about three months ago.
In separate interviews yesterday, the workers accused the interim council management of turning council into their “tuck shop” by awarding themselves “hefty” salaries at the expense of the ordinary workers.
“Since the suspension of Mr Marongwe and the chairman, Clr Mudondo, by Dr Ignatius Chombo, the Minister of Local Government, about three months ago, we have not been getting our pay. We used to get half of our salary with the remainder being paid during the course of the new month. The new guys seem to have forgotten us,” said one of the workers.
The workers accused the interim council leadership of serving their selfish interests by awarding themselves huge salaries and allowances while the majority of employees continue to suffer.
According to a Gokwe Town Council salaries and allowances breakdown document leaked to Chronicle, the town secretary gets about $4 500 as salary per month while the town treasurer takes home about $3 500.
They also get a $1 000 monthly housing allowance and $250 cellphone allowance.
As part of out-of-station allowances, the top management also enjoys $100 cash upfront for bed, $30 supper, $20 lunch and $30 for refreshments.
They also get $30 as sitting allowances.
An inside source said the majority of Gokwe workers were paid $200 per month.
The workers said they had given the council management up to Friday to pay them their salaries.
“If they fail to give us all our outstanding salaries, we will have to down tools and stage a demonstration in protest against this development, which has turned us into beggars when we are employed,” said another worker.
Acting town council chairman Clr Vengesai Chipfuko was indifferent to the workers’ concerns when contacted for comment yesterday.
“Everyone is aware that all local authorities are faced with problems of cash flow. The claims by the employees that management is getting hefty salaries are lies. If they want to go on strike, tell them to go right away. They are delaying in their plans to strike. We want to see if that demonstration will help them. Why don’t they seek other channels of engaging management and map a way forward instead of engaging in a strike or demo which will not help them in any way?” he said.
Online Reporter