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IT looks like nobody takes Government threats seriously any more. We can only attribute this to lack of action on the part of Government itself.
As it turns out, residents don’t seem to have any power to get local authorities to justify their existence, this is despite having several residents’ associations or trusts claiming to represent the interests of ratepayers.
Elsewhere in this edition we report on most urban local authorities which in March this year were ordered to cut their mega-salaries to at least US$6 000 including allowances.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa threatened drastic action if the directive was not implemented.
It was pointed out at that time that more money paid by ratepayers should be directed at service delivery.
The situation has hardly improved, six months down the line.
As we report in this issue, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Engineer George Mlilo, exposed what can only be described as gross indiscipline and fraud at most urban councils.
He pointed out that while senior officials at councils had agreed to comply with the salary cap directive, they went on to circumvent this by increasing their perks.
“In Harare, I have two conflicting statements, the first one says the basic salary for the town clerk is US$14 000, while the overall gross is US$22 000,” he said.
“Directors have a basic salary of US$12 600 and are pocketing US$19 900 after perks.
“The other one shows that directors are earning US$4 600 while the full package is US$11 300.”
Eng Mlilo said in the case of Bulawayo, the town clerk was earning a US$5 100 salary but took home US$9 500 after benefits, while directors were earning a salary of US$4 600 and an overall pay of US$8 400.
The Gwanda town clerk earns a salary of US$6 700, but pockets US$16 700 after benefits. Although the actual figures differ according to the local authority, the pattern of deceit is repeated across the country where the remuneration tends to double once the allowances are added. It is not clear how the allowances are calculated.
Harare shows that there wasn’t even an attempt to reduce the town clerk’s salary to at least US$6 000, yet the rest of the council’s foot soldiers get meagre wages which are often erratic.
Worse still, residents and ratepayers are grossly short-changed. Water supplies are erratic.
When the water does come, it is so dirty nobody risks using. Garbage is rarely collected. Eng Mlilo stated that only 30 percent of council revenue was expected to be directed to salaries and wages, inclusive of allowances. Needless to say nobody has heeded that directive and senior officials gorge themselves while the rest of law-abiding citizens struggle to make ends meet. Municipal police engage in running battles with errant kombi drivers and street vendors selling a variety of merchandise to make a living.
But, as indicated above, Government must ultimately should all the blame.
The reaction of the local authorities to the directive to cap salaries for senior officials at US$6 000 was never heeded.
They ignored it. They knew there would be consequences for their defiance.
And they were right, they are eating and nothing is happening.
That leaves the nation faced with a law for the rich and another one for poor street vendors. Senior council officials can enjoy their huge perks without worrying about service delivery, knowing they are not accountable to anyone and that there are no consequences, perhaps until the next elections.
Government should not make idle threats if it is not prepared to act. That breeds cynicism and scorn each time it issues such warnings.
Online Reporter