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The council last week had all its movable property attached by the Deputy Sheriff over $3,5 million owed to workers in unpaid salaries.
The move grounded almost all essential operations.
The attached property includes refuse collection trucks, fire tenders, furniture and computers among other properties.
The workers recently won an arbitration award of 160 percent salary increase backdated to 2009 but the local authority has been allegedly dragging its feet in implementing the ruling, which was also registered with the High Court.
Workers have refused to rescind their position and they are pressing for the payment of the outstanding salaries.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the crisis meeting and said the party’s national leadership was very concerned by the developments at Masvingo council.
“I can confirm that the Prime Minister had a meeting with the Mayor, Alderman Femius Chakabuda, over the impasse between workers and the local authority. It is an issue of concern and there is a possibility of losing property. While the council has to run, workers have to be paid their money. Yes, you can refer it as a crisis meeting,” said Mr Mwonzora.
He said Prime Minister Tsvangirai pledged to assist the local authority in whatever possible way.
“The PM has promised to assist in the best way possible so that normal operations can resume because residents deserve good service delivery. The issue remains a serious matter and it is going to be dealt with accordingly. That is why Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Deputy Minister Mr Sesel Zvidzai, is also here,” he said.
Responding to allegations that his party had failed to run the councils hence the crisis, Mr Mwonzora said it was not a new thing for workers to take their employer to court.
“This is not new the world over. Even in competitive economies like the United States of America, workers take their employers and even attach property over unpaid salaries. It does not have anything to do with the party’s efficiency in running the council,” he said.
Commenting on the problems dogging the party, he admitted that there were serious factions within the party in Masvingo province. He said the national leadership was in the province to also address the differences.
“We are holding a provincial meeting in which we are discussing issues to do with our preparedness for the forthcoming elections. This is an opportunity for the provincial leadership to interact with the national leadership. We are also attending to issues of factionalism, which are always there in the party,” he said.
Online Reporter