Rutendo Chirume

The 2019-2020 Auditor General Mildred Chiri’s report revealed that 44 percent of Mutare City’s water is being lost through non-functional and unmetered properties which has resulted in huge financial losses due to undercharging of residents.
The AG stated in the report that council had 29 542 water meters of which 9 413 were non-functional, in addition 4 523 properties were unmetered which leads to water and revenue losses by undercharging or estimates but however enquiries with management revealed that financial challenges faced by council were affecting the replacement of non-functional water meters.
Mutare Town Clerk Blessing Chafesuka said council has been trying by all means to install water meters and they have managed to secure a tender but it will take time to install them all.
“This is a project which will take us several years to complete and will greatly depend on budget performance but so far we have managed to secure 5 000 water meters which we will install in groups as we are incapacitated to do them all at once.
“For those without meters or with broken meters, we are doing estimated consumption though we might be losing out on lots of money due to this. We will start with broken meters and unmetered properties then work on the rest. Water crisis has been topical of late in the city and we will try within our capacity to resolve that,” said Chafesuka.
Commenting on the AG’s finding, Mutare Council management said they acknowledged that the water meters must be replaced every 10 years (at most).
“Council did not replace water meters over a long time and since 2019 the local authority has resorted to replacing water meters in phases for the top 300 customers and said will increase the number to 600 the next year depending on the funds available,” it read in the report.

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI-Town Council (CTC) chairperson Gibson Hwende has invited well-wishers and business community to extend their hand towards the construction of a high density house to a local man with visual impairment.
The intended beneficiary Vengani Framinga Musendekwa (55) was allocated a stand by CTC in 2011 but has been struggling to mobilize resources towards construction of a property on the stand.
Hwende who once made headlines in late 2018 after he was elected the chairperson of the local authority by declining council offer to buy him a vehicle, after his predecessor Zanu PF’s Francis Moyo walked out with a Toyota D4D Twin Cab as his package, has once again directed the local authority to directly deposit his monthly ZW $60 000 allowance into Musendekwa’s account to cater for the construction of a house in Makondo extension.
Speaking during his visit to Musendekwa’s house, Hwende said he discovered the need to help with resource mobilization towards the construction of a house after his visit to check on their upkeep as he is the administering councilor.
“These are my close relatives whom I have been in touch with since 2013. I was here sometime when they gave me a list of the basic commodities they were highly in need of. So during that time, I learned that Musendekwa has been struggling to construct on her stand in Makondo Extension which she got from the local authority in 2011.
“So I have decided to mobilize resources towards the construction of the house as I have engaged friends from the Diaspora, well-wishers and the business community to give a helping hand.
“I have since directed the local authority to deposit all of my monthly allowances into Musendekwa’s account to help her towards the construction of the house. We have also formulated a coordination committee for transparency and accountability purposes including Pastor Taibu and PWD provincial chairperson Taona Chenjerai,” said Hwende.
Pastor Taibu also praised Hwende for keeping his word towards this noble cause.
“This was supposed to be the work of the church, but you decided to take it upon your shoulders. The word Baba goes beyond wearing of a trousers. In fact it was derived from a Greek word ‘ABA’ which means a man of responsibility. We want you to keep your word and deliver. My joy lies in delivering than just promising,” said Taibu.
Chenjerai also said the helping hand is highly recommendable.
“When I heard of this initiative by chairperson, I was happy to be part of it, but however, PLWD should be prioritized not lip praised. During allocation of stands, they should be given a grace period to pay because much of their earning comes from begging, imagine raising money to pay for a stand through begging, it’s very difficult,” said Chenjerai
Musendekwa also welcomed the aid and insisted that council differentiate herself from most people who come with a helping aid and ended up being empty promises.
“I had nothing else to think off, all that came into my mind is that I had failed to construct that house. I was just praying to God, as God always intervene whenever we had gone out of ideas. Let it not be just empty promises, which many people used to do,” said Musendekwa.
The house is poised to be finished by the end of July as most of the resources required for the construction of the foundation and concrete footing have been put in place.
Hwende left groceries to the three families who are currently housed at one of Nesbit Arms properties in Chiredzi.

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- City Council on Monday (April 25) revealed that the dates for the traffic arbitration court has been set for May 4, 2022.
The communique (from the Magistrate court who is the arbitrator) was read yesterday during a full council meeting held at Gweru municipal offices.
The issue of Gweru traffic lights has been hanging for the past seven years as a contractor Emobuild, which was given the tender to install street lights was accused of doing a half baked job as the lights became dysfunctional soon after installation in 2013.
The total cost of the project was US$500 000, while council is said to be owing the contractor US $46 000 TellZim News has established.
Speaking on the development, Gweru Council acting director of Engineering Services Praymore Mhlanga said he received a communique stating that the arbitration date has been set for May4-6, 2022.
“I have just received a statement which is informing us as council that the arbitration case regarding our traffic lights has been set for May 4-6 2022,” he said.
Gweru council deputy mayor Cleopas Shiri who is also ward 5 councilor welcomed the development saying the issue was supposed to be dealt with for good.
“We welcome the court update regarding the issue of traffic lights which has been long overdue. We hope this time the case is going to be heard once and for all. The resolution to engage the minister on the matter will for now stand as a guard,” he said.
Ward 18 councillor Edson Kurebgaseka said a number of accidents have since been recorded in the Central Business District (CBD) due to the absence of functional traffic lights.
“A number of accidents have been recorded in the CBD. We have received a number of reports being attributed to the absence of lights in town. The issue of dates being postponed has greatly affected us to come out with a resolution towards the reinstallation of traffic lights.
“As a committee, we need work to be done once and for all and if possible we want to fix the lights ourselves. We cannot go on looking for contractors who cannot do their jobs well,” said Kurebgaseka.
Meanwhile Gweru City Council is planning to engage the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister on the issue of traffic lights.
However ward 13 councilor Catherine Mhondiwa said before engaging the minister on the matter of traffic lights as proposed by council, there was need to give the courts their time to determine the issue at hand.
“Before council write the letter to the responsible minister, there is need to allow court proceedings to be finalized and thus give the courts their time to solve the issue at hand,” said Mhondiwa.
Ward 7 councillor Gideon Mugariri echoed the same sentiments saying the issue of engaging the minister was supposed to be documented first.
“We need to have this resolution documented for us to engage the minister on a round table,” he said.

…Labour not fighting against the government

Fredrick Moyo

First Deputy Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and General Secretary for Food Federation and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe (FFAWUZ) Runesu Dzimiri said they are not aligned to any political party as they are only demanding and fighting for their rights as workers.

Speaking at ZCTU Southern Masvingo District Workers’ Day commemorations held on May 1, 2022 at Mucheke Hall in Masvingo, Dzimiri said they are apolitical as their mandate is to rescue workers from the oppression they are currently under.

“Firstly, I would like to let people know that as ZCTU we are not aligned political party as this is the resolution we were given by the general council, the reason why they came up with it is that we are governed by our own constitution which is very clear about issues of independency and this means that we are not aligned to any political party in Zimbabwe.

“If we take a closer look at the history of ZCTU, in 1981 it was formed by a party called ZANU, then later on in 1999 ZCTU with other unions with formed a labour-backed party called Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), but this does not mean that we are now dealing with political issues no, our mandate is to first fight for the rights of workers and we are there to see workers living a better life,” said Dzimiri.

He also added that they are not fighting the government of Zimbabwe as they are only demanding for their socio-economic rights, improved standards of living and working conditions.

“I want to make it very clear that we are not fighting the government of Zimbabwe, we are actually demanding for our rights. As a labour movement, we observed that there is mistrust between the labour movement and the government itself, the issues we are raising as workers are the same issues opposition political parties are also raising and government is now thinking that we are only fighting for regime change yet we are only demanding our socio-economic rights.

“What we expect is that employees’ salary should be above Poverty Datum Line (PDL) as we speak right now according to Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) statistics, the PDL right is ZW$ 92 000.We are also demanding safe working conditions as different workers are facing different challenges as some are not even given enough protective equipment,” he added.

Dzimiri also said that they are tired of empty promises as they want action and a government that can solve their grievances.

“We are also appealing to the International Labour Organization (ILO) to chip in and come up with programmes that orient Tripartite partners so that we have a common understanding and trust which is one of the factors that our country needs going forward. We do not have permanent enemies, neither do we have permanent friends the issues we have are that we just want the ruling party to solve the problems we are facing as workers and definitely we will give the 100 percent support and failure to meet our demands or address the socio-economic issues that are worrying us, we are going to support those who will.

“We are sick and tired of empty promises we want food on the table as workers. We want action and people who can solve our problems. It does not make any sense to give someone our vote while they cannot meet our demands that is not fair and we cannot take it anymore. Workers have been victimized and detained for calling for better working conditions and better salary in the country,” said Dzimiri.

Recently workers in Zimbabwe were left with an egg on their faces as the rate of exchange between the US$ and ZW$ civil servants earn short upwards due to inflation while some retailers and wholesalers abandoned the local currency on basic commodities.

This year’s theme for Workers’ Day was based on restoration of workers’ dignity.

Fredrick Moyo

A company by the name Podilla Ventures Private Limited has vanished with US$ 137 713 after being awarded a tender by Masvingo City Council (MCC) to supply 545 drums of bitumen.
In 2016 council purchased 545 drums of bitumen from said contractor and since then the consignment is yet to be delivered while no recoveries have been made on part of the local authority.
In Auditor General (AG) Mildred Chiri’s 2020 Report, the AG found that by the time of her audit August 2021 council was yet to recover anything from the supplier.
“The Council purchased five hundred and forty-five (545) drums of bitumen from Podilla Ventures (Private) Limited in 2016 valued at US$137 713. However, the bitumen had not been delivered and the money paid had not been recovered by the time of my audit in August 2021.
“My enquiries with management revealed that a High Court judgement was given in favor of the Council but the Master of the High Court was facing challenges to serve the supplier with a warrant of execution,” read the AG’s report.
Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said a High Court judgement was given in favour of council and a messenger of court was sent to the company with the papers of litigation only to find empty offices.
“The issue was taken to court and the case was finalised, with the judgement given in our favour. A messenger of court then went with lawsuit papers to the company but the company was no longer at the given address.
“So we have now gone to the company registrar’s offices to try and locate them and if they are registered under a new name we can be able to find them and get our compensation as they have all the records there,” said Mukaratirwa.
A Google search of the company indicates that Podilla Ventures is a Mining and Construction equipment company that specializes on pothole patching and machines, earthmoving machines, survey and geo testing equipment, bituminous products, thermoplastic and cold plastic road marking paint, line marking machines located on 33 Dan Jadson Harare, Zimbabwe.
This is not the first time Masvingo City Council has inadvertently awarded a tender to questionable contractors after Mutual Construction company which benefitted from a confirmed US$4 million from council coffers failed to deliver on the prolonged Mucheke Trunk Sewer project which is yet to be completed, way behind schedule but continuously recurs on annual budgets.
The construction company later on withdrew their services and left the site in 2014 after barely a quarter of the job was done.

Emmanuel Chitsika

A traditional leader in Wendedzo area of Masvingo North constituency has called upon government to ensure that proper mechanisms are put in place to ensure that local people benefit from resources within their locality.
Speaking to media practitioners during a tour of the degraded area as a result of the gold rush of 2021, village head Sayina Chinomwe said local people should be strategically positioned so that they benefit from local resources unlike a scenario in which ‘invaders’ get a huge chunk from such proceeds.
“The local people benefit nothing as the invaders who seem to be mightier and powerful with more resources stand to benefit more than them. We as local traditional leadership once came here during the peak of the gold rush with the intention of benefiting from the mineral, but we got nothing as the invaders frustrated us by giving us soil with no mineral which we ended up throwing away.
“The community was bitter with us especially the younger generation who blamed us for being powerless and leaving them vulnerable at the mercy of the violent invaders and fortune seekers who benefited from their land,” said Chinomwe.
He also bemoaned the damages on the environment as a result of the artisanal miners panning for gold which threatens the wellbeing of the community long after the rush and local people expressing reluctance on reclaiming degraded land.
“The pits left by these miners pose a threat to the local people especially livestock. We have tried in vain to mobilize people to make efforts towards reclaiming the damaged land as they argue that they benefited nothing during the gold rush. People would only experience the negative effects of the panning when a problem comes to their door step for instance if a cow falls into the pits. Government should mobilize resources if possible to motivate local people to offer labour for repairing the damaged land.
“Even if the pits are filled up, the other challenge is that these artisanal miners continue to visit the area and the problem keeps on recurring,” he added.
Chinomwe however expressed dissatisfaction on the conduct of law enforcement agents who went to protect the area during the gold rush as he allege that they ended up engaging in illegal mining especially on the parts of the land they would have noticed presence of the mineral.
“The challenge we had during the first gold rush was that the law enforcement agents deployed to the area ended up creating own panning syndicates on areas with more gold while at the same time terrorizing villagers who would stray into their areas of interest,” Chinomwe said.
The area is also under the threat of an imminent repeat of the 2021 scenario after a local self-proclaimed prophet and spirit medium told the community that she was spiritually shown another belt of gold in the area which the village head says threatens the local dam and road network.

…ARTUZ warns of an impending general strike

Emmanuel Chitsika

Workers’ unions in Zimbabwe have called upon government to urgently act towards the restoration of the status and dignity of workers paying particular attention to the civil service whose members are wallowing in abject poverty.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Dr Takavafira Zhou said government has deliberately neglects civil servants by unilaterally culling their salaries and paying a deaf ear to their calls for improvement of working conditions.
“There is therefore an urgent need to restore the status of workers and dignity in Zimbabwe in particular. Civil servants are mourning the cold, callous and calculated salary and conditions of work vandalism that saw government unilaterally culling their salaries with teachers’ salaries declining from US$ 540 to the current equivalent of US$ 50. There is need to restore the purchasing power parity of workers’ salaries and conditions of service that have fallen from grace to grass with monotonous regularity,” said Dr Zhou.
He also accused government of adopting neo-liberal policies, led to closure of industries, perpetuating corruption and failure to create employment opportunities.
“The point is that neo-liberal policies pursued by government have seen conditions of workers deteriorating in Zimbabwe. Many industries have closed and unemployment is more than 94 percent. Despite assurances to create employment, the country has become a nation of vendors and informal trade.
“High profile corruption has become routine rather than episodic and poverty of leadership more apparent. Workers call for a responsible leadership that can ensure that national resources are tapped and harnessed for the benefit of the citizenry. The conditions of have continued to decline while the workload is excessive with bloated and composite classes,” he added.
Dr Zhou’s sentiments were echoed by Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure who said this year’s May Day commemorations should inspire the working class to unite and boldly fight against slave wages.
“This year’s commemorations should inspire the broader working class unite and boldly fight back against slave wages. The restoration of workers’ dignity in linked with the fight against neo-liberalism and corruption. The day should serve as a launch for a sustained fight back against exploitation.
“ARTUZ is taking heed of the call to compliment the traditional red color with a black color symbolizing a state of mourning the poverty levels in our country. Post May Day ARTUZ will initiate and join all actions aimed at putting an end to save wages. On May day, we will announce a day for a general strike, a day we expect the working the working class to fight back against stagnant paltry salaries in the face of an inflationary environment,” declared Masaraure.
Zimbabwe Revenue Alliance Trade Union (ZIMRATU) president Dominic Manyangadze said restoration of the workers’ dignity covers quite a number of issues among them rewarding a decent wage.
“The issue of restoration of workers’ dignity covers a broader spectrum of issues which engulfs the whole nation. The main reason being that if a worker is given a wage that cannot sustain his/her family through purchasing power, it directly mean that one would have lost dignity. As a union, we resonate well with the theme of restoration dignity as we recognize the value of jobs that we have in our sector.
“If only government can restore salaries to January 2019 period, only then would dignity have been restored. As a sector, we are saying we need recognition as key drivers of the Zimbabwean economy as revenue collectors for the state. What would be the feeling if what we collect is used to pay other government departments, when our offers in form of local currency are not commensurate with the salary matrix. ZIMRATU union members also need recognition in terms of non-monetary benefits like tax rebates that government offered civil servants and Members of Parliament. That would go a long way in reducing threats of strikes, job actions and incapacitation that always prop-up,” said Manyangadze.
The salary impasse between government and majority of the civil service has been ongoing for quite some time with teachers boycotting classes late last year prompting government to introduce US$ allowances on top of the paltry local currency salary.
Government has also been accused of acting in bad faith for rewarding members of the Zimbabwe National Army increased salary pecks while neglecting other civil servants like teachers, nurses and doctors.

Rutendo Chirume

The director of Stationery World Glen Tavarwisa proved that age is nothing but a number in achieving big things as he was recognised the Young Executive of the Year Gold award winner at the prestigious MegaFest awards recently.

Tavarwisa was recognised for his contribution in the growth of education sector in Masvingo Province despite prevailing economic conditions in the country.

Apart from supplying books and related stationery, the young entrepreneur who holds an Honours degree in Marketing and a Masters in Strategic Management also supplies laptops and computers to schools in the province.

Speaking to TellZim News Tavarwisa who owns the leading stationery store which has three branches in Masvingo, Chiredzi and Zaka said one has to be a risk taker to make it in life and aims at creating employment for the youth and help in their growth as much as they can.

“I have made it for myself but still hopes for more as I am motivated. I hope to achieve businessman of the year in the coming future. The main aim now is to create employment for the youth. I am also sponsoring youths through volleyball and music. My message to the youths is that that nothing is impossible; one needs to be a risk taker put their minds to something, work hard and hands on,” said Tavarwisa

He said he started his company in 2015 only as a mobile phone store after he thought he had found a business opportunity through a friend whom he later found out he was scammer but later moved on to stationery because he wanted to help the community as it sometimes struggles to secure stationery and pay fees at the same time.

“When I started selling mobile cellphones, I was only 23 years then and I was trying to make a living just like any young man out there. I met someone who said he owned a shop in the CBD and told me that he will give me space if I have cellphones or related gadgets. I sourced for money and bought those cellphones. When I went there I was told the person was only an employee. To think I already had the phones but without anywhere to sell them, I had to do all it takes because I wanted to return the money. Thankfully it paid off and was able to return people’s money.

Tavarwisa said he then started selling stationery on discount and cheaper negotiable prices so that parents could afford to take their children with all required stationery to schools.

…As govt waivers import duty for MPs’ vehicles

Emmanuel Chitsika

The Ministry of Finance and Economic development has imposed more woes on an already bleeding economy by fattening the benefits on parliamentarians through the recently-introduced US$ 60 000 maximum rebate for vehicle imports.
In a gazetted Statutory Instrument 80B of 2022 Customs and Excise (General) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022 (No 109) dated April 28, the Ministry introduced regulations meant to offer serving members of the current Parliament allowance to import a maximum of two vehicles with rebate on the second pegged to the tune of not more than US$ 60 000.
“By the repeal of subsection (3) and substitution of the following- A serving Member of Parliament shall be allowed to import not more than two vehicles under rebate in terms of this section within the life of the current Parliament.
“Provided that the maximum allowable value of the second motor vehicle under this rebate shall not exceed US$ 60 000,” read part of the Statutory Instrument.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General Japhet Moyo said in as much as labour would appreciate the role of parliamentarians, government should consider offering rebates to all workers in the country as they play an equally important role in serving the nation and desist from giving preferential treatment to members of parliament.
“If that is what government has decided, obviously our reaction as labour is that maybe government is trying to assist parliamentarians as they now allow them to import two vehicles but I think this is the status being given to our legislators but would not know why the issue of rebate is limited to MPs only. We still have a number of critical stakeholders in our society like civil servants who are serving the nation, why not the privilege extended to everyone working for the state.
“The parliament is serving the nation just as the people working in the civil service. There are people responsible for example for ensuring people get birth or death certificates, they are doing a lot as well and the rebates should be extended to them all. Why is it that parliamentarians are given a special treatment ahead of other workers? I don’t see any problem with MPs getting such privileges, but my concern is why it is not extended to every government worker,” argued Moyo.
Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Trade Union (ZIMRATU) president Dominic Manyangadze said they find it very unfortunate that the ministry has made such an amendment allowing MPs when the workers with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) have not been granted permission after several applications for such a privilege were ignored.
“Regarding the amendement 109 made by the government, we find it very unfortunate that surely Members of Parliament are allowed to import two vehicles when ZIMRA workers and members of ZIMRATU have not been granted the permission as their applications for such have been rejected several times by the authority. We have done two papers petitioning the minister but it appears they have not taken heed to our call.
“MPs can now apply up to two vehicles worth US $120 000. It is regrettable and also demonstrates that workers of Zimbabwe are on their own because this is a significant indication that there is a lead convergence between government and parliament and also the ruling elite of this country. They do not even consider ZIMRA workers who offer the service when we know that there are several other organizations benefiting from the services they provide. No ZIMRA worker has benefited from rebates when teachers and or even doctors are benefiting. It is unfair that the request by ZIMRA workers is continuously denied when MPs and Senators are now benefiting from two schemes,” said Manyangadze.
He further called upon government and parliament to consider their plight.
“Surely our call as ZIMRATU is that parliament and the Ministry of Finance should seriously consider the call by ZIMRA workers by giving them duty maybe once every five years. The call has been made several times on several platforms. We also think that this will improve the motivation of staff within the authority and also reduce issues to do with corruption as a motivated workforce would be reluctant to engage in corrupt activities.
“That will also improve the lives of workers and instill a sense of importance in them. There is no doubt that ZIMRA employees are responsible for mobilizing almost 99 percent of the national revenues. Why would it be difficult for the ministry to sit down and come up with another Statutory Instrument (S I) that will focus on ZIMRA workers,” added Manyangadze.
Socio-economic activist with Youth Perspective Initiative Abel Sibanda said it is a worrisome development especially during a time when the generality of the population is struggling to make ends meet.
“The main challenge is that the cushioning of parliamentarians is done at a time when the ordinary people’s lives are getting worse and worse. This reflects the whole governance architect is to give comfortable lives to the few people who are running the state and not to the ordinary people. So any solution or adjustment that is done should consider the general public because everyone right now is struggling given the fact that an ordinary family needs something around ZW$ 65 000 to survive.
“There is desperate need to cushion ordinary people because their incomes are not matching the rate of inflation prevailing currently in the country,” said Sibanda.
The development comes at a time when government especially through the Ministry of Finance has been accused of ignoring the welfare of mostly civil service workers who continue to wallow in poverty as they earn wages below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) with teachers being the most suffering group of them all.
Labour is also calling for the restoration of the workers’ dignity by provision of a decent salary.

…As council allegedly purchases top-of-the-range vehicles for HODs

Melinda Kusemachibi

Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) is embroiled in a scandalous vehicle purchasing spree that has seen the local Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association (BIRRA) drafting a petition letter seeking redress and clarity over the move by the local authority.
In a letter dated April 29 copied to various authorities among them Bikita RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Masvingo resident minister, District Development Coordinator (DDC), President’s office, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and Bikita West Member of Parliament undersigned by acting BIRRA secretary Mark Mutengani, the residents seek redress as to why council resolved to embark on such a move at a time service delivery is deteriorating.
“It is our displeasure to present our discontentment on the resolution passed by our council to the effect that you agreed and purchased seven top of the range vehicles for Head of Departments (HODs) of which six of them have already been delivered. To add disappointment, you went further to privatize the vehicles with yellow plates under the so-called ‘loan facility’.
“It is our displeasure to learn that our council has abandoned its main purpose of service delivery to go on a self-enrichment route by pampering its employees with brand new top of the range GD6 Toyota Hilux vehicles worth over US$ 350 000. From the best of our knowledge, council has no ambulances, refuse collection truck, fire brigade truck not talking of the general road maintenance and sewer reticulation but you had the guts to buy seven luxury vehicles for personal use ignoring the already available new fleet available,” read part of the petition letter.
The residents also expressed displeasure over the manner in which the RDC handled council debtors with the former surrendering debtors to debt collectors and the resident association felt the RDC management was ‘terrorizing residents’ as the generally poor residents were forced to incur legal costs after having already failed to honor their bills.
BIRRA feels the intervention of the relevant authorities to which the letter was copied would bring sanity at the local authority while at the same time the RDC would be compelled to lay bare their 2022 budget and show where the purchase of such vehicles was slated.
Contacted for comment on the matter Bikita RDC CEO Peter Chibhi said residents do not have the power to block resolutions that the local authority would have passed as the law allows them to purchase such vehicles while at the same time alleging the undersigned association does not exist.
“Residents tell their councilors to bring issues to council but have no mandate to force council to rescind a resolution. It is like citizens forcing government to reverse Acts of Parliament. The process was done above board in line with cabinet circular on executive vehicles dated March 20, 2018. Bikita RDC is a public institution scrutinized by the Auditor General’s office by way of External Audit.
“We are audited yearly. The vehicle were budgeted for from 2016 to 2021, and they were bought in 2021 so they cannot be in 2022 budget and 2022 rates cannot be reviewed downwards because the procurement of the vehicles was done in 2021 and not 2022,” said Chibhi.
He however said residents owe council a lot of money dating back to 2020.
“Residents owe the local authority ZWL$10 million dating back to 2020 and we engaged lawyers to recover the debt. Residents want service and they must pay for the service. Water and sewer in Bikita is a mandate of Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA). We bought six pick up service vehicles on a loan facility as provided for in the RDC Act.
“Service delivery in Bikita is done accordingly as the roads are rehabilitated, refuse is collected three times a week, boreholes are rehabilitated and new boreholes are drilled, the six vehicles are condition of service delivery to be used for five years for council business in line with council policy and government circular,” added Chibhi.
However a source privy to matter who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the petition comes at a time when poor service deliverly is rocking the authority.
“The petition is very true, poor service delivery rocks at the growth points. They gave residents unserviced stands, where there are no sewer systems, roads and the refuse compactors do not even go there leading residents to dump waste everywhere.
“The council is good as nothing, they are after ratepayers’ money. They are living luxurious lives at the expense of residents, they bought cars with the residents’ money and privatized them,” said the source.
Most local authorities countrywide have been accused of failing to prioritize the welfare of residents and ratepayers as a result of misplaced priorities among them purchasing luxurious vehicles, hefty salary packages and allowances among other issues while residents are at the receiving end with acute water shortages and failure to ensure efficient refuse collection.