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This follows reports that municipalities were failing to pay workers, a situation that was now negatively impacting on service delivery as some workers have embarked on strikes.
In a recent interview, Minister Chombo said his ministry set stringent conditions for urban councils to improve service delivery and the welfare of workers.
Minister Chombo said municipalities were facing operational challenges like lack of equipment and should therefore reduce the workforce and keep it in line with available resources than to keep a huge staff complement that would only gobble funds.
He said there was no reason for municipalities to award themselves salary increases when they were failing to pay workers.
“We have given them conditions, which they should meet. We told them that they cannot increase salaries when they cannot pay workers. Another condition is that they should stick to the 30 percent-70 percent salary-service delivery ratio before they can consider improving their allowances as a council,” said Minister Chombo.
The councils are likely to find themselves unable to access loans and funding from the Government unless they update salary payments.
“Councils cannot go out and borrow money to pay wages when workers they are employing have no tools. What do you do with those workers without jobs because there are no tools to use? These are some of the decisions councils should be working on because it makes no sense to pay workers when there are no tools.
“Technically, municipalities should right size and balance their workforce and justify its existence. That is what councillorship is all about.”
Local authorities recently came under fire from the Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU) for failing to pay salary arrears, with some reportedly having gone for more than two years without paying workers.
In March, ZUCWU reported that a total of 12 out of 23 urban councils were in salary arrears and gave municipalities a two week ultimatum to catch up on salary payments.
Municipalities across the country reportedly still owe their workers.
Contacted for comment, ZUCWU secretary for Bulawayo chapter Mr Nkosiyabo Masuku confirmed local authorities were still owing.
“They are still outstanding. Bulawayo workers went on strike recently and that was called off after the matter was referred to the Minister of Labour and Social Services and now we are looking forward to the council honouring what it promised because they are still two months behind,” said Mr Masuku.
Online Reporter