adminFreedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
A recent resolution by Gweru City Council that all business transactions should be sanctioned by the mayor Clr Hamutendi Kombayi has sparked outrage with council staff accusing city fathers of giving the mayor executive powers.According to a full council resolution recently passed, council should seek authority from the mayor as well as the finance chairperson, Clr Albert Chirawu, whenever they want pay for any services.
Council officials who spoke to Chronicle on condition of anonymity said they were not happy about the resolution.
“The resolution by councillors recently took us by surprise because the powers they gave the mayor to authorise every transaction in council is tantamount to giving the mayor executive powers when his position is actually ceremonial. It has been discussed within the management meeting and was agreed that the council resolution was off-side,” said one of the senior council officials.
The official said the resolution has an effect of frustrating council work as it implies that Clr Kombayi and the finance committee chairperson were supposed to be signatories to any cash that the council would spend.
“It is now very difficult because even when buying ball point pens, the mayor and the finance chairperson should be signatories and it’s now very difficult to operate under such circumstances,” said the official.
Clr Chirawu confirmed the council resolution and said the move was done to improve transparency as well as safeguarding the rate payers’ money.
“There is nothing sinister about the council resolution. We are not the first crop of councillors to affect this idea. Even during the time of when there were no executive mayors, every transaction especially to do with council suppliers would be authorised by the mayor. The move is meant to safeguard ratepayers’ money and improve transparency,” he said.
Clr Kombayi was not reachable for comment yesterday.
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