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| Collen Maboke |
Upenyu Chaota
Faced
with crippling water problems and a host of other service delivery challenges,
the cash-strapped City of Masvingo recently paid $169 260 towards First Lady Auxillia
Mnangagwa’s traditional food cooking competition which was held at Masvingo
Polytechnic College.
The
amount translates to US$2 015 on the official interbank rate.
The
traditional food cooking competition was held on March 24 and the city council
was requested to foot the total cost of the competition to the tune of $338 520
equivalent to US$4 030.
The
Finance and General Purposes Committee minutes dated March 22, 2021 show that council
was asked to donate towards the cost of hosting the traditional cooking
competition held by the First Lady.
“It was
reported that the council was requested to donate towards the cost of hosting
the cooking competition to be held at Masvingo Polytechnic College at a date to
be advised. The competition would be hosted by the First Lady Amai Auxillia
Mnangagwa.
“The
total cost of the competition was US$4 030 which was translated to RGTGS 338
520. The committee noted that council could not pay the full cost of the event
but agreed to pay half of the cost which was US$2 015,” reads the minutes.
Mayor
Collen Maboke told TellZim that he was not aware of the developments and said
he would confirm with the Finance director.
Acting
Town Clerk engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said he had no comment on the issue.
However,
a councilor who requested anonymity said council simply
responded to a genuine request for help.
“The
request came in from the minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and
Devolution Ezra Chadzamira. He wrote to all local authorities looking for
donations and the city council responded.
“It is
our responsibility to help when need be. It was the city council’s donation
which made the event successful. This is the First Lady we are talking about
and we know in future we may need something from her as a local authority,”
said the councilor.
Masvingo
United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (Murra) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba
lashed out at the city council saying the decision was diabolic, inconsiderate
and counterproductive.
“We are
so much infuriated as residents to learn that our council donated over US$2 000
to a cooking competition at a time residents are confronted with the worst
service delivery ever. Residents in Rhodene and other suburbs have spent over
two months without tap water but the council finds it sensible to donate that
money to a traditional food cooking competition.
“We
feel that that this is a case of misplaced priorities. How could they do such a
thing when they could have sunk a borehole for residents to access water? We do
not know how these decisions are made and they should consult us,” said Mtimba.
He said
the council must bring back the money and put it to good use for the benefit of
the ratepayers.
“The Finance
committee should be brought to account. This is diabolic, senseless and
inconsiderate. They want to bootlick the First Lady by sponsoring her and
donating money when we are not getting the services we are paying money for.
“Our
roads are in a terrible shape and are infested with pfumvudza-like pot holes
and garbage is not collected yet you see a whole city council sitting and agreeing
to donate to a traditional food cooking competition.
“We
want our money back. We will not tolerate that as residents,” said Mtimba.
