Kwekwe City Council under-staffed

Midlands Bureau
Kwekwe City Council is operating with a small staff complement which is likely to compromise its service delivery, chairperson of the council’s Review Committee, Mr Shangwa Mavesera has said.

He said a recent review established that the city only had 630 employees instead of nearly 1 200.

“Kwekwe is a big city that requires a workforce of 1 206 workers to operate optimally, but is currently working with 630 workers.

“They are essentially operating with about half of the workers they are supposed to have.” Mr Mavesera said the situation was likely to compromise service delivery in the city which is regarded as one of the best-run councils in the country.

“Kwekwe has a good reputation as one of the best cities in the country, but they need to employ more workers, they want to continue being efficient,” he said.

Mr Mavesera noted that Kwekwe was manned by personnel who are in acting capacities, a development which he also said needs to be rectified.

He said there was need for the council to appoint people on a substantive basis.

“Most of the officers who hold important positions are on an acting capacity, which is not health for any organisation,” said Mr Mavesera. “The council is, therefore, recommended to make sure that key positions are filled on substantive capacity as a matter of urgency.”

The Local Government Board recently conducted interviews for Kwekwe City Town Clerk following the retirement of the city’s long serving, Mr Ngwena Musara late last year. The city’s acting town Clerk, Mrs Lucia Mkhandla and Gweru city council’s acting Finance director, Mr Owen Masimbe were some of the interviewees eyeing the post.