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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief—
GWERU City commissioners have allegedly been paid over $67,000 in allowances in two months since they were tasked to run the affairs of the cash-strapped council. Commission chairperson Tsunga Mhangami and two commissioners Mark Choga and Parenyi Chomunorwa were appointed by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, about two months ago to preside over the affairs of the council following the suspension of all 18 councillors, including mayor councillor Hamutendi Kombayi on corruption charges.
According to a schedule of payments allegedly from the council finance department made between August 19 and October 12 this year, Mhangami, Choga and Chomunorwa, were paid a total of $67,071 for food, accommodation, transport, travel and subsistence allowances and fuel refunds. The commissioners are also being paid $1,500 per week.
The payment schedule, while it is being disputed by Mhangami as a mischievous act by people bent on discrediting his commission, reveals that on August 19, the commissioners were paid $3,060 in food, accommodation and transport allowances. On August 21, they were paid $300 in transport allowances before receiving another $4,126 for food, accommodation and transport on August 24 and 31.
On September 3, they were each paid $2,600 for food, accommodation and transport allowances and on the same day received a further $6,652 for food, accommodation and transport. On September 7 and 9 the commissioners were each paid $800; $10,156 and $4,126 respectively.
October 12, they were paid food, accommodation and transport allowances ranging between $2,586 and $9,936. The three commissioners also received between $230 and $270 for travel and subsistence allowances to Harare in addition to fuel refunds of between $20 and $55 each.
Mhangami told The Chronicle that the figures were not an actual representation of facts on ground. “You need to come to the office tomorrow and we will show you the real figures not these which are not factual. These figures are an act of those who are against the existence of the commission,” he said.
Cornelius Selipiwe, the chairperson of the Combined Gweru Residents’ Association said while the suspension of the councillors to answer to allegations of corruption was a welcome development, paying the commission such high figures was going to further bleed the council.
“We’re praying that the figures we hear are false. If they are true, we call upon Minister Kasukuwere to intervene by paying some money towards the upkeep of the commission because the council is broke to be maintaining the commission,” he said.
Online Reporter