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Walter Mswazie , Masvingo correspondent
Cash-strapped Masvingo City Council has come under fire from residents after buying vehicles worth $500,000 for its top management.
The residents feel that the council’s decision to splash money on luxury cars does not match the local authority’s waning financial fortunes. Council has a three-year outstanding salaries stand-off with workers which has resulted in more than 100 vehicles that include the mayor’s official Mercedes Benz and two refuse trucks being attached by the Deputy Sheriff in 2012.
The local authority has taken delivery of five Mazda B-T50s plus an ambulance, at a cost of $500,000.
The luxury vehicles were reportedly bought through loans extended to top management.
Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT) coordinator, Prosper Tiringindi said council should have dealt with the issue of attached vehicles before “splashing” money on luxury cars at a time when council is “bleeding” financially.
“We cannot watch when residents are made to pay for council’s ineptitude. We feel there is no need for council to buy those expensive cars when the economic situation is depressed. Expensive cars are not a priority, they should have recovered the attached vehicles long back as workers were willing to negotiate,” said Tiringindi.
He said residents are not happy about the way council continues to sacrifice service delivery for luxuries.
He said residents were appalled at the number of projects that are at standstill.
“It defies logic for councillors and management to acquire expensive vehicles when the sewer system project remains unfinished. The project was supposed to be completed in 2012,” he said.
Masvingo Urban Ratepayers and Resident Association (MURRA) coordinator Anotida Muguti said council is being inconsiderate.
“While it is necessary for top managers to have means of transport, there is need for the local authority to spend money basing on priority. They are already sitting on a $3,5 million lawsuit from workers and now they have acquired a half a million dollar loan, which needs to be serviced,” said Muguti.
Masvingo Mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze said there was nothing amiss with buying vehicles for managers.
“I can confirm the arrival of the vehicles you are referring to and there is nothing wrong with that. Beware of some of these residents associations, they have other motives besides representing residents,” said Clr Fidze
He said the local authority needed to buy new vehicles because its entire fleet was attached by the Deputy Sheriff.
Clr Fidze said it was cheaper to buy because council was hiring vehicles from CMED at $12,000 a week.
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