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Blessings Chidakwa
Municipal Reporter
Top officials of CCC-led Harare City Council, even most of those on suspension and bail pending trial, allegedly pocket each month US$500 airtime and 320 litres of fuel, when workers are not receiving their monthly salaries.
The workers last month just managed to get US$25 each paid, but not their full pay.
Some of the allowances being enjoyed by the top brass include those for entertainment, refreshments, public relations and responsibility.
Interestingly, out of the top eight managers, six are on suspension, but enjoying those privileges, as are the six acting in their positions, with this double payment prejudicing the council’s potential money that should be channelled to service delivery.
A leaked document lists some of the benefits being enjoyed by top directors, including that of airtime.
Suspended human capital director Dr Cainos Chingombe claims he is being persecuted as he is the only one on suspension being denied salary and benefits.
“I am the only employee placed on paid leave, but never received a salary from April 2021 to date. No reason is given by the employer on why I am not being paid,” he said. “Ironically, all other executives placed on paid leave have been religiously receiving their salaries.”
Speaking during a recent full council meeting, CCC councillor Kudzai Kadzombe said council workers last month received salary payments equivalent to a trifling US$25 each, with the rest of their pay going into arrears.
“We are having a challenge as a council of wasting resources and paying employees that are on suspension,” he said. “Our current employees are earning peanuts, as we have not managed to pay them the money we were supposed to pay.
“Last month, we gave our employees US$25, yet we have an extra bill of paying executives.”
Harare City Council spokesperson Mr Innocent Ruwende disputed that employees were paid trifles.
“Remuneration and benefits are private and confidential and cannot be discussed in the media,” he said.
“However, the information on the US$500 of airtime and fuel allocation are unfounded and the US$25 monthly for employees is also not correct.
“You can get the facts right from the employment council since what is agreed is then registered and becomes public information.”
While the council and council employees are paid according to the schedule, there is a difference between what the council owes staff when pay is in arrears, and just how much money is actually put into staff bank accounts, with the rest left owing.
Combined Harare Residents Association director Reuben Akili said the issue clearly revealed that the local authority was collecting revenue that could improve service delivery, but the priorities were misplaced, hence the continued deterioration of service provision in the city.
“The current state of service provision is reflective of the local authority spending council revenue on hefty allowances, on air time and escapades while the city is sinking into raw sewage,” he said. “This is not acceptable. We also further call upon the finalisation of cases of suspended officials as this has been draining council resources.
“We expect the mayor and councillors to fully play their oversight role and ensure that such misplaced spending is stopped. They are the custodians of the city. When such things happen under their watchful eye it then defeats the existence of their office.”
Zimbabwe Combined Residents Association (Zicora) president Mr McSteven Nyabvure said Harare City councillors had failed to protect the finances and assets of residents which they were supposed to manage properly.
He said some of the councillors were working in cahoots with managers to turn the once vibrant Harare City Council into their own feeding trough.
“We are once again going to interrogate the logic behind awarding such demonic allowances to non-performing and suspended council officials at HCC at a time when the city council is failing to provide critical services to the residents,” said Mr Nyabvure.
“What’s the logical reason except their unbridled appetite for looting the people and residents’ resources. That culture must change and must change sooner than later, but for that to happen, serious action has to betaken. We further call upon the relevant offices and officers to take responsible action.”
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust chairperson Mr Shalvar Chikomba said this was a sad development.
“Siphoning of money by officials at council has always been the norm, yet they are failing to properly run the affairs of the city,” he said. “The city is battling water woes, uncollected garbage, sewer bursts and all that is being ignored.
“In terms of service delivery, we are getting nothing, but bills are ballooning by the day, of which the money is the one now being abused.”
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