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and loans extended to them in breach of local government regulations.
Any further disbursements of the kind have also been immediately suspended.
Councillors and staff owe the municipality in excess of US$4 000 each in what Government has described as “gross abuse” of office.
An audit team headed by Makonde district administrator Mr Webster Tembo will also embark on a seven-day investigation into the local authority’s affairs.
Another team will be seconded a week later to assist council run its affairs following months of turbulence characterised by worker unrest, mounting debt and general decline in service delivery.
The council owes workers, Zimra, NSSA and other creditors tens of thousands of dollars. The monthly salary bill for the around 400 workers is about US$360 000 against revenue of about US$150 000.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo on Friday said councillors and management had shown they lack the capacity to turnaround the municipality’s fortunes.
This was after meeting councillors and management.
Minister Chombo said they should pay back loans and advances by 10am.
“Failure to repay the money means you have expelled yourself from council because the mismanagement of money here shows that it was deliberate.
“If it was out of ignorance or lack of understanding then it means you should not be here in the first place.
“You want to cheat residents. What you did was grossly illegal,” he said.
On Friday councillors and other members of staff were making frantic efforts to pay what they owed.
Some paid off their debts under an arrangement where sitting allowances were garnished by the treasury department.
Some of the councillors had accumulated debts bigger than they are supposed to earn during their tenure.
The loans and advances were extended to meet personal expenses such as clothing and medication.
The tense meeting was also attended by Local Government Deputy Minister Sessel Zvidzai who said council should live within its means.
The council reportedly can function with just 200 workers but has double this.
Mashonaland West Governor and resident minister Faber Chidarikire said council should come up with ways of enhancing revenue.
Online Reporter