CHIPRA statement on workers' plight and fraudulent activities at Town House

The luxurious vehicles come in the wake of poor service delivery and at a time when the municipal workforce of close to 2000 wallow in abject poverty and deprivation, after having gone for almost a year without getting paid.

Morale amongst workers is evidently at its lowest ebb and this has immensely contributed to shocking levels of poor service delivery as one cannot expect a disgruntled and demoralized labor force -some of whom are almost destitute after having been thrown out of their rented accommodation for failure to pay rentals .As such it is disheartening to note that the council prioritize the comfort of its top executive ahead of service delivery and the payment of junior staff.

Mr. George Makunde, the TownClerk, has presided over the virtual demise of council administration as witnessed by the fact that when he assumed office in September 2012, Council owed workers only two months' salary arrears and now, barely a year and a half down the line and under his stewardship, workers have gone for eleven months without getting paid.

This has necessitated some council workers to get hold of whatever that comes their way to steal and sell even sewer pipes and render their services on hire to unsuspecting residents. CHIPRA notes that there are more than 200 cases of theft amongst workers in sewer and water departments. Council utility vehicles such as refuse trucks have also been grounded over small mechanical faults like nuts and bolts which do not cost $20, with the most expensive parts being less than $600 dollars.

Sewer reticulation equipment is now dysfunctional and obsolete, making it extremely difficult for workers to exercise their duties. Workers in the refuse collection work under extremely difficult circumstances without proper tools and protective clothing.

It is against this background that uncollected garbage have become a permanent feature in most suburbs, with raw sewer over flowing in areas like St Mary's, Unit D, Unit H, and Unit N, posing a serious health risk to residents and especially children. The road network is in a deplorable state, with potholes endangering the lives of both motorists and passengers especially at night and when it is raining.

CHIPRA notes with concern the decision to purchase three vehicles for the recently appointed director, it was not only scandalous but criminal and consequently warrants an investigation by responsible authorities, into the goings on at the municipal headquarters.

We note with utter dismay the decision taken by a clique of council top bosses to unilaterally and clandestinely promote the Human resource manager to a full director, with attendant benefits, inblatant violation of the urban councils Act, and hence further strain council resources. The post is not provided for in the council manpower budget, we wonder why the office of the Town Clerk and chamber secretary endorsed such a promotion in the absence of a council resolution remains a mystery.

Reports of the existence of secret accounts and a secret payroll, from which the salaries and allowances as well as luxurious lifestyles of top council executives have, over the years been funded, are also a cause for serious concern to all responsible and self-respecting citizens.

Residents most of them fall within the low income bracket, part with their hard earned monies on a monthly bases in anticipation of good service delivery and to Makunde and his cronies, masquerading as Directors, to create Secret accounts out of poor people's contributions in extreme frankness, is tantamount to gross abuse of public funds.

This has vindicated CHIPRA's long held and deep seated suspicions that council Bosses have, over the years been clandestinely gobbling thousands of United states Dollars in salaries and allowances. We are aware that during Christmas holiday they awarded themselves 600 litres of fuel each above their weekly allocation of 80 litres each.

The mere existence of a secret payroll and secret accounts clearly indicates that municipal bosses have skeletons in their cupboards and the sooner they are exposed the better for Chitungwiza residents. It is against this backdrop that CHIPRA calls for a forensic audit into council financial documents and conduct of the executives.

*Francis Rwodzi is a Writer and Journalist based in Harare