Nepotism claims rock recruitment of BCC temporary labourers

CLASHES between councillors and senior management in Bulawayo, over reported cases of nepotism and corruption in the recruitment of temporary labourers to cut grass had stalled the project this year, Southern Eye reported.

Acting senior parks officer, Sobhuku Dube confirmed the delays, but claimed this was due to "unforeseen circumstances."

"The project, which was supposed to start in January for all the 29 wards in the city, is now set to start in February with each ward meant to forward 10 names to council officials," Dube said

In the past, recruitment was done by councillors in their respective wards. The process has, however, been criticised by some sections of the society, who accuse councillors of nepotism and corruption in the recruitment process.

"In the past, councillors at ward level recruited individuals, who they thought deserved.

However, we experienced a number of problems, as other ward members said the procedure was partisan and biased," a city official said on condition of anonymity.

"It benefited individuals, who were not supposed to be in this programme; again these individuals recruited by the councillors are difficult to supervise."

The official added that council management wanted the procedure changed.

"We want to change the criteria used in the recruitment exercise, we are proposing that social welfare workers be used to recruit all community group members in the city, that is the grass cutting and sweeping groups," he said.