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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
FURIOUS Gweru residents have disrupted the 2017 budget consultations called by the city fathers demanding an explanation on how a three-member commission running the city gobbled about $300 000 in travel and subsistence allowances in the past 12months.
The Tsungai Mhangami-led commission has now entered a 14th month at the helm of the City of Progress after the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, suspended Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi and 10 other councillors in August last year on allegations of gross misconduct, incompetence and mismanagement of council funds and affairs.
“From August to September, Commissioner Mhangami has received in cash $100 000 while Commissioners Choga (finance) and Parenyi (administration) have received $90 000 each. This is exclusive of fuel allowances as well as $100 per month they receive for being board members of the now defunct Go Beer Breweries,” reads a document seen by The Chronicle.
However, with a day to go before finance directors from all the urban authorities in the country meet in Gweru to look at their proposed 2017 budgets collectively and share notes, fears are that the proposed $41million budget will be presented without any input from residents.
From Mkoba 1 Community Hall to Mkoba 16 council administration hall; Mtapa and Senga areas, angry residents have refused to participate in budget consultations.
Council officials were forced to abandon the consultation meeting at Mkoba Hall, which covers Mkoba South, while a few residents attended in other areas.
The numbers were deemed too low to constitute proper representation of a population of about 250 000.
The Mkoba South meeting at Mkoba 16 council offices was also a flop after residents questioned the legality of the commission running the affairs at the local authority.
The Wednesday meeting at Ingwe Hall in Senga was also not successful with residents accusing city fathers of attempting to impose the budget on them.
The consultation meetings were expected to start on Tuesday and end today (Thursday) in different parts of the city.
Since most of the MDC-T dominated councillors are still on suspension, the commission is moving around with three elected Zanu-PF councillors and part of the management team in consulting residents.
Acting town clerk, Mr Edgar Mwedzi, said his finance director was going to present the proposed $41million Gweru budget today.
He said consultation meetings were called and those who managed to attend had their views recorded.
“Yes, local authorities are coming here with their 2017 proposed budgets and we will be represented. Views will be exchanged and all. As Gweru we invited residents and some attended while others didn’t. We cannot force residents to attend the meetings,” he said.
Asked to comment on the alleged payment of about $300 000 to the commissioners for travel and subsistence, Mr Mwedzi disputed the figure saying it was an exaggeration.
He however, could not provide the exact amount paid out to the trio.
“It’s not true that council has paid them that much. If there is anything, they have only been paid for food and accommodation,” Mr Mwedzi said.
@pchitumba1
Online Reporter