Some councilors have reportedly failed to attend committee meetings due to the paltry monthly allowances of $113,000 ZWL which translates to less than US$7 at the prevailing interbank interest rate.
This was revealed at a feedback meeting organized by Chinhoyi MP Leslie Mahanjwa at Cooksey Hall on Saturday after Councilor David Malunga asked Mhanjwa what Parliament was doing on the request to look into the issue of frivolous allowances given to councillors.
Malunga asked: “What is Parliament doing regarding our request to consider our small allocations?”
Mahangwa said Parliament had considered the issue of council members.
Cornered by residents over why council members would want to increase their bonuses when they were not worried about the welfare of council workers, who have reportedly gone for months without salaries, Malunga said council members were paid a paltry sum of US$7 a month, and the workers’ salary arrears had been It has been reduced. to survey.
“You are reckless, we get as little as $113,000, how do you want us to live. Some of our colleagues fail to attend council work because of these few allowances.
Malunga said the council had failed to pay Zimdollar component salary arrears due to RTGS shortage as residents now preferred to pay rates in US dollars.
A NewsDay survey showed that $113,000 ZWL is the rate set for councilors across the country, hence the scramble for salaries in council jobs by councillors.
Contacted for comment, Local Government Minister Winston Chitando said the allowances had increased this week, but he could not reveal the figures.
“The allowances were increased this week. Unfortunately, I don’t have a copy of the circular with me,” Chitando said. Newsday
