Gwanda municipality biting more than it can chew

Gwanda town clerk Gilbert Mlilo, the second highest paid administrator in Zimbabwe with a whopping monthly package of $18 000 has painted a bad picture of financial affairs at the municipality admitting the council is eating more than it can chew.

The town which is surviving on hand to mouth has a monthly wage bill of $275 000 against a monthly revenue of less than $200 000 a month.

Management awarded employees a 75% salary increment despite the fact that they had in the past failed to pay them their low salaries.

"In March we collected $150 000 and that cannot sustain us, please bear with us, lets work as a family," a subdued Mlilo told angry workers.

The top five council managers monthly wage bill stands at $62 000.

Workers accused management of engaging in unnecessary trips in which they receive huge allowances.

Some workers questioned the timing of a full service on Mlilo's vehicle which is part of his retirement package.

The vehicle is set to be fitted with new springs and workers argue Mlilo is preparing for retirement life by abusing council funds.

Workers also took a swipe at councilors accusing them of making empty promises.

"You said you were rescuing us from the biblical Egypt to the land of Canaan, but where is the promised land of milk and honey," quipped one worker.

The workers however finally called off the strike on condition that management abide by their undertakings.

Council promised to award workers their full salaries this month and the months to follow at the same time clear their three months outstanding salaries by August.

The municipality of Gwanda which once turned to transport minister Obert Mpofu to avert a serious water shortage after the Zimbabwe Water Authority cut supplies over a $5million debt is reportedly marketing stands to raise workers salaries.

Local government minister Ignatius Chombo has reportedly said he will be deploying a probe team in Gwanda to investigate the goings-on in the small town.

Government has ordered that Mlilo's salary be cut to $6 000, however he retires end of next month with his retirement package pegged at close to the half a million dollars.