Under the arrangement, each of the 12 political wards would provide a four-person gang to load refuse onto the council collection truck during weekly clean-up routines.
Marondera council is understaffed after the Zanu (PF)-led authority fired more than 100 MDC-T casual workers whose services had been hired by the local authority during the government of national unity (GNU) period.
Town clerk Josiah Musuwo told The Zimbabwean that, the council was understaffed and could not re-employ.
“Council is overstaffed at administrative level and understaffed where the ability to deliver is determined. The floor level which carries out service delivery has inadequate manpower and, unfortunately, council has no capacity to employ, hence the volunteered service,” said Musuwo.
Musuwo said according to the labour laws, council could not re-employ, or it would be forced by law to re-engage dismissed workers.
He said council was paying the volunteers a token amount as a gesture of appreciation. Though Musuwo would not disclose the amount, council sources revealed it was $4 a day.
Each volunteer would offer their services once a week for a month before being replaced.
MDC-T supporters in the town have accused the Zanu (PF) council of discriminating against them when recruiting volunteers.
At the 2013 elections, Zanu (PF) won nine of the 12 ward seats in the town. Previously, all the seats were held by MDC-T.
Post published in: News