News / Local
Councillors push for 450% allowances hike
19 Sep 2015 at 07:18hrs | Views
BULAWAYO councillors are forging ahead with their push for a 450% hike in allowances, and are sending a delegation to beg Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere to authorise the increments.
Under the proposed hike, the mayor would earn $1 600 from $350, his deputy $1 500 from $300, committee chairpersons $1 200 from $240 and $1 000 for ordinary councillors.
Deputy mayor Gift Banda recently defended the councillors' demands, saying they were necessary to cushion the city fathers against the current economic meltdown.
The demands have unleashed a backlash from Bulawayo residents, who argue the increments were unjustified in view of the drop in service delivery and financial challenges faced by the local authority.
Council minutes, however, show that the city fathers were undeterred by the criticism and a delegation comprising mayor Martin Moyo, town clerk Middleton Nyoni and three others, is heading to Harare to meet Kasukuwere over their demands.
"The town clerk recalled that council had resolved that a delegation comprising the town clerk, financial director, his worship the mayor, deputy mayor and chairman of finance and development committee be sent to Harare to meet the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on the issue of councillors' allowances," the council minutes read in part.
Kasukuwere has, however, been busy "familiarising himself" in the ministry and the meeting has not yet taken place, the minutes added.
"The Secretary for Local Government had now written as follows: Please note that the minister is still in the stage of familiarising himself with his new mandate and as such, it would be prudent to allow him to settle in before meeting with him on such a matter," the minutes said.
"His worship, the mayor, confirmed that the information coming through was that the matter was still under consideration at ministerial level and developments would be communicated to council in due course."
Source ---Southern Eye
Under the proposed hike, the mayor would earn $1 600 from $350, his deputy $1 500 from $300, committee chairpersons $1 200 from $240 and $1 000 for ordinary councillors.
Deputy mayor Gift Banda recently defended the councillors' demands, saying they were necessary to cushion the city fathers against the current economic meltdown.
The demands have unleashed a backlash from Bulawayo residents, who argue the increments were unjustified in view of the drop in service delivery and financial challenges faced by the local authority.
Council minutes, however, show that the city fathers were undeterred by the criticism and a delegation comprising mayor Martin Moyo, town clerk Middleton Nyoni and three others, is heading to Harare to meet Kasukuwere over their demands.
Kasukuwere has, however, been busy "familiarising himself" in the ministry and the meeting has not yet taken place, the minutes added.
"The Secretary for Local Government had now written as follows: Please note that the minister is still in the stage of familiarising himself with his new mandate and as such, it would be prudent to allow him to settle in before meeting with him on such a matter," the minutes said.
"His worship, the mayor, confirmed that the information coming through was that the matter was still under consideration at ministerial level and developments would be communicated to council in due course."
Source ---Southern Eye
Source - Southern Eye
