… Struggle to pay workers
By Brighton Chiseva
Service delivery at Zaka Rural District Council is at stake as the local authority is operating with only one service vehicle that is being used by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and is struggling to pay workers who are involved in day to day business of the council.
This was revealed in a full council meeting held at the local authority boardroom in Jerera Growth Point where it was noted that two council vehicles were involved in accidents on different incidents and only one that the CEO uses was operational putting service delivery at risk.
He also appealed to the council to consider purchasing a new and smaller vehicles to be used by management to promote service delivery in the district.
“Two council vehicles were involved in accidents on separate occasions and they are both being attended to by our insurer. Only one vehicle that I use is currently up and running, I am appealing to council to consider one of its resolutions to purchase vehicles to save the situation,” said Majaura
He also pointed out that the local authority was struggling to pay workers and was in four months arrears as they had managed to clear the arrears from last year to March this year.
“We have salary arrears from the month of March to June since we managed to clear some months that backdated from last year and we are left with arrears from March to June this year,” said Majaura
The finance committee presentation revealed the council’s predicament on salaries but the full council demanded that they be given the total amount they owe council workers. The committee however declined saying they could not discuss people’s salaries in an open meeting.
“The council should just know it has salary arrears of about four months and I don’t think discussing the amount of each worker is necessary. At least we are happy that we managed to clear some of the months and has cleared USD balance for some of the outstanding months,” said ward 23 Councilor Chrispen Watadza.
However, the audit committee noted with concern that council managers going for work related meeting and workshops were failing to bring requisite paperwork like receipts and invoices of their allowances thereby compromising transparency.
The committee recommended that anyone who goes out on council business should account for all financial vouchers within seven days and anyone who goes beyond a month will see some cash being deducted from his or her account.
