Valentine Makufa
Masvingo City Council has turned down government proposed fire tender deal to purchase equipment from Belarus arguing they have got other key priorities than fire details.
The revelation came out of the Finance and General Purposes Committee Meeting minutes of July 19 with the local authority saying fire tenders are not a priority.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Acting Finance Director on the letter from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public works advising that government will procure fire tenders on behalf of local authorities utilizing the 2022 Devolution fund allocations. The city of Masvingo would get two fire tenders at a cost of SD464 396 each.
“The 2022 Devolution allocation was ZWL$253 107 300 and council was being advised to reprioritize the Devolution Funds to accommodate the cost of the fire tenders. The committee has raised concern that the fire tenders were not a priority to the city of Masvingo. The city of Masvingo is in need of refuse trucks tipper trucks, grader and ambulances.
“The committee counter proposed that government should consider procuring two refuse trucks, a tipper truck, grader and an ambulance for the city of Masvingo using the devolution funds in place of the fire tenders,” read part of the minutes.
The minutes also indicated that council resolved to turn down the proposal by government to purchase the fire tenders to pave way for other key equipment.
“The committee has resolved that the position of government through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, to procure two fire tenders for the city of Masvingo at a cost of USD$464 396 each to be turned down on the basis that fire tenders were not a priority for the city.
“The Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa instruct the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to rather procure two refuse trucks, tipper truck, grader and an ambulance in place of two fire tenders for the city of Masvingo, under the 2022 Devolution fund allocation,” added the minutes.
The fire tender issue torched a storm after the Ministry of Local Government wrote a letter to city, town and rural district councils indicating that it was procuring fire tenders from Belarus on behalf of all local authorities with the money being deducted from their devolution fund allocations over a period of 12 months.
Local authorities in Masvingo province rejected the directive saying it is unconstitutional.
Masvingo City Mayor councilor Collen Maboke who is also a lawyer, said the directive by central government is unconstitutional since the funds are from devolution funds where they have to consult residents on how to use the money.
He went on to say a fire tender was not a priority for Masvingo City since they recently got one saying priority should be towards refuse compactors.
Zaka Rural District Council (RDC) chairperson Cornelius Mapuranga said Zaka District had more pressing issues than a fire tender.
Chiredzi Town Council Acting Town Secretary Engineer Wesley Kauma said the local authority recently purchased a fire tender which is awaiting shipment and would want to use the funds towards other needs.
Mwenezi RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Chivanga said he cannot question a directive from above but if allowed to choose they would not choose a fire tender but would go for other urgent needs.
Masvingo Residents and Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba echoed Maboke’s sentiments saying the directive defeats the idea of devolution and that their organization will not let council buy the fire tender as it was not a priority for now.
