News / National
Windfall for MDC-T councillors
29 Sep 2017 at 06:46hrs | Views
The 10 MDC-T councillors who were suspended in August 2015 from Gweru City Council and were reinstated in March this year, will receive about $4 500 each in backdated allowances.
City mayor Councillor Charles Chikozho yesterday said council had received a directive from Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere to pay the councillors the backdated allowances.
The 10 join three Zanu-PF councillors who were recently acquitted of gross misconduct and received about $15 000 each, in backdated allowances. The 10 will receive the allowances even if they were found guilty and pardoned by Government. The back pay is dating back to August 15, 2015 when they were suspended.
"Minister Kasukuwere put to me in writing this week, granting us the permission to receive our back pay dating back to August 15, 2015 when we were suspended."The amount varies, but approximately everyone is getting about $4 500," said Cllr Chikozho.
Cllr Chikozho said some councillors had already received part of the $4 500, while others were yet to receive it.
"Some councillors have received their back pay, but as of me I'm yet to receive it. It is a process which we are doing slowly, but what l can say is that councillors have already started receiving the money," he said.
Kasukuwere in March said the 10 MDC-T councillors were not going to receive the back pay after having being found guilty of some of the charges they were facing. Clr Chikozho said the Minister had however rescinded his earlier directive. An independent tribunal headed by Mr Isaac Muzenda investigated 15 Gweru councillors for alleged gross misconduct, incompetence and mismanagement of council funds.
Out of the 15 councillors who were on suspension, Kasukuwere reinstated 13 and fired former Gweru mayor Hamutendi Kombayi and Clr Kenneth Sithole after recommendations by the tribunal.
City mayor Councillor Charles Chikozho yesterday said council had received a directive from Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere to pay the councillors the backdated allowances.
The 10 join three Zanu-PF councillors who were recently acquitted of gross misconduct and received about $15 000 each, in backdated allowances. The 10 will receive the allowances even if they were found guilty and pardoned by Government. The back pay is dating back to August 15, 2015 when they were suspended.
"Minister Kasukuwere put to me in writing this week, granting us the permission to receive our back pay dating back to August 15, 2015 when we were suspended."The amount varies, but approximately everyone is getting about $4 500," said Cllr Chikozho.
"Some councillors have received their back pay, but as of me I'm yet to receive it. It is a process which we are doing slowly, but what l can say is that councillors have already started receiving the money," he said.
Kasukuwere in March said the 10 MDC-T councillors were not going to receive the back pay after having being found guilty of some of the charges they were facing. Clr Chikozho said the Minister had however rescinded his earlier directive. An independent tribunal headed by Mr Isaac Muzenda investigated 15 Gweru councillors for alleged gross misconduct, incompetence and mismanagement of council funds.
Out of the 15 councillors who were on suspension, Kasukuwere reinstated 13 and fired former Gweru mayor Hamutendi Kombayi and Clr Kenneth Sithole after recommendations by the tribunal.
Source - chronicle
