adminPatrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
COUNCILLORS from the cash-strapped Gweru City Council allegedly blew $26,000 in five days in Bulawayo where they attended a workshop to learn how to operate laptops. The 18 councillors and top management recently received a laptop each. Sources at Town House said management refused to be part of the junket arguing that the workshop would paint a bad picture of them.
The sources said management pointed out to the councillors that they were struggling to pay employees because of cash flow problems, hence attending the workshop would be courting trouble from the workers.
A council official said it had been proposed that the computer lessons be conducted in the council boardroom to cut costs but the proposal was shot down by the city fathers.
The councillors were given $600 each for accommodation among other allowances and were in the city from Wednesday last week and only returned to Gweru on Tuesday.
They were also allegedly given money to pay for the computer lessons, the venue for the workshop and teas.
“Management and councillors were supposed to go for the workshop but in the end only the 18 councillors undertook the journey. Management refused to be part of it,” said the source.
Gweru Mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi confirmed the trip.
“Yes we went to Bulawayo to learn more about e-learning since the world is changing. So what’s wrong with going to learn more about e-learning?”
Clr Kombayi said while it was a fact that the MDC-T was running the local authority, they were motivated by government’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, which puts emphasis on the need for developmental efforts in clusters such as education.
He said e-learning was vital in this day of Information Communication Technology (ICT) adding that councillors had the right to be computer literate.
“We want to do away with paperwork and that’s good for the environment. When you think of the benefits to be drawn from this workshop, what’s $26,000 that you’re talking about? It’s nothing compared to the monthly wage bill of $900, 000,” said Clr Kombayi.
Town Clerk Daniel Matawu declined to comment.
“Yes they went to Bulawayo but it’s best you talk to them,” said Matawu.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association chairman Cornilia Selipiwe blasted the councillors describing them as selfish people bent on milking council.
He said councillors were ‘heartless’ as they always think about themselves while failing to pay workers.
“It’s unfortunate that we’ve stupid and heartless city fathers who will misuse ratepayers’ money on trivial things. This is a criminal act. As residents we condemn that. Council workers are struggling to get their salaries yet the councillors blow money on non-service delivery issues. These people must be recalled,” he said.
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