News / Local
Govt directive irks BCC
02 Jun 2016 at 13:19hrs | Views
Bulawayo City Council reluctantly paid an estimated $18 000 allowances to a government initiated probe team on the local authorities alleged mishandling of contracts and tender procedures and improper allocation of stands to councillors.
The money was unbudgeted for and councillors said in future Government should take care of all expenses.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing ministry ordered the probe. As per government rates, each officer was paid an unproved allowance of $75.00 per day for their fourteen days' stay in Bulawayo.
A further $2 000.00 was paid to the chairperson and $1 500 to each member of the Committee.
"This added to a total of $18 350 for the entire investigation. "The investigators two government vehicles were also to be fuelled by Council.
"It would be ideal that they access fuel at Central Stores" reads part of the latest council report. The report said whilst it was noted and accepted during discussion that this was a Ministerial directive, Councillors were concerned that Council was having to fund the projected expenditure of $18 500 when in actual fact it was facing serious financial limitations.
"Council had adequately responded to the various issues raised by the Ministry. These were public funds and the view was that any further investigations should in all fairness, be funded by Government and not by the rate payers of Bulawayo as this was not budgeted for. Council said it had nothing to hide, and as a rule, had always acted transparently in its operations.
"Council should therefore remain open to any investigation.
"On the funding of the investigation it was noted that Council had no option but to shoulder to cost as this was a government directive issued in terms of the Urban Council Act".
The money was unbudgeted for and councillors said in future Government should take care of all expenses.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing ministry ordered the probe. As per government rates, each officer was paid an unproved allowance of $75.00 per day for their fourteen days' stay in Bulawayo.
A further $2 000.00 was paid to the chairperson and $1 500 to each member of the Committee.
"This added to a total of $18 350 for the entire investigation. "The investigators two government vehicles were also to be fuelled by Council.
"It would be ideal that they access fuel at Central Stores" reads part of the latest council report. The report said whilst it was noted and accepted during discussion that this was a Ministerial directive, Councillors were concerned that Council was having to fund the projected expenditure of $18 500 when in actual fact it was facing serious financial limitations.
"Council had adequately responded to the various issues raised by the Ministry. These were public funds and the view was that any further investigations should in all fairness, be funded by Government and not by the rate payers of Bulawayo as this was not budgeted for. Council said it had nothing to hide, and as a rule, had always acted transparently in its operations.
"Council should therefore remain open to any investigation.
"On the funding of the investigation it was noted that Council had no option but to shoulder to cost as this was a government directive issued in terms of the Urban Council Act".
Source - Byo24News
