News / Regional
Outgoing Gwanda town clerk attacks Southern Eye
24 May 2014 at 05:31hrs | Views
Outgoing Gwanda town clerk Gilbert Mlilo has accused Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), publishers of the Southern Eye of launching a smear campaign against him.
Mlilo who retires at the end of this month said this at a farewell party hosted for him by the municipality of Gwanda.
Low-income workers who went on strike last month demanding they be paid three-months outstanding salaries boycotted the event that was characterized by feasting and drinking.
The cash-strapped municipality splashed $1000 for the event with workers also donating towards the event.
Without mentioning the publication by name,Mlilo at the end of his speech took time to thank the state media for a cordial relationship accusing 'this other paper of launching a smear campaign against him'.
"Lastly l would like to thank the rumour mongers (press) for working well with me, l want to thank the ZBC, Chronicle and Ilanga (New Ziana) for working with me very well however there is this other publication which has launched a smear campaign against me accusing me of being corrupt, however God forgive them," said the town clerk.
The Southern Eye is the only other paper with reporters based in Gwanda and was the first to expose how Mlilo and other top four managers at the municipality paid themselves handsomely when service delivery collapsed and workers went without pay for months.
Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa revealed in parliament that Mlilo is the second highest paid administrator after Harare town clerk earning a total package of $18 000 monthly.
Mlilo's basic pay is $6 766,37, but his take home is bumped up by numerous allowances, which include responsibility ($2 706,55) professional ($2 368,23), retention ($2 368,23), telephone ($1 014,96), cellphone allowance ($1 014,96) and housing and car benefits of $278,58.
Local government minister Ignatius Chombo promised to dispatch a probe team to investigate the goings on at the troubled Gwanda municipality.
Mlilo boosted that he has worked hard to transform Gwanda from a rural council to its current municipality status adding he presided over a number of developmental projects that included the construction of Senondo and USAID townships.
Mlilo also said the most difficult period of his tenure of office was when the MDC led by former mayor Lionel Denecker led council refused to appoint chamber secretary Priscilla Nkala to her current position accusing her of being sympathetic to Zanu PF.
Denecker was fired as Gwanda mayor over his resistance.
Mlilo who retires at the end of this month said this at a farewell party hosted for him by the municipality of Gwanda.
Low-income workers who went on strike last month demanding they be paid three-months outstanding salaries boycotted the event that was characterized by feasting and drinking.
The cash-strapped municipality splashed $1000 for the event with workers also donating towards the event.
Without mentioning the publication by name,Mlilo at the end of his speech took time to thank the state media for a cordial relationship accusing 'this other paper of launching a smear campaign against him'.
"Lastly l would like to thank the rumour mongers (press) for working well with me, l want to thank the ZBC, Chronicle and Ilanga (New Ziana) for working with me very well however there is this other publication which has launched a smear campaign against me accusing me of being corrupt, however God forgive them," said the town clerk.
The Southern Eye is the only other paper with reporters based in Gwanda and was the first to expose how Mlilo and other top four managers at the municipality paid themselves handsomely when service delivery collapsed and workers went without pay for months.
Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa revealed in parliament that Mlilo is the second highest paid administrator after Harare town clerk earning a total package of $18 000 monthly.
Mlilo's basic pay is $6 766,37, but his take home is bumped up by numerous allowances, which include responsibility ($2 706,55) professional ($2 368,23), retention ($2 368,23), telephone ($1 014,96), cellphone allowance ($1 014,96) and housing and car benefits of $278,58.
Local government minister Ignatius Chombo promised to dispatch a probe team to investigate the goings on at the troubled Gwanda municipality.
Mlilo boosted that he has worked hard to transform Gwanda from a rural council to its current municipality status adding he presided over a number of developmental projects that included the construction of Senondo and USAID townships.
Mlilo also said the most difficult period of his tenure of office was when the MDC led by former mayor Lionel Denecker led council refused to appoint chamber secretary Priscilla Nkala to her current position accusing her of being sympathetic to Zanu PF.
Denecker was fired as Gwanda mayor over his resistance.
Source - Byo24News
