Outcry over Masvingo City Council posh cars

REGIS CHINGAWO IN MASVINGO

Residents in the city of Masvingo have expressed disquiet over the local authority’s plan to spurge millions of United States dollars on top of the range vehicles for its seven senior managers, Business Times can reveal.

According to the latest council minutes seen by Business Times, council deliberated on the issue in its last meeting, but referred the matter to council caucus for consideration.

“It was reported that as part of their conditions of service, senior managers were supposed to be provided with vehicles for use on council business and for private use. The following officials do not have conditions of service vehicles at the moment; chief environmental health officer, chamber secretary, finance director, director of engineering services, administration manager, deputy director of engineering services and senior health officer,” reads  part of the minutes.

“It was reported that the chief environmental health officer has indicated that she would prefer a sports utility vehicle. A quotation sourced from Croco Motors showed that a Toyota Fortuner SUV 4×4(2.8) auto costs US$ 63 720 while a Toyota Hilux 2,8 GD auto double cab costs US$ 67 365.”

Masvingo residents say the move was retrogressive as the council was struggling to provide quality services.

Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance, Godfrey Mtimba called the move as unfortunate as “it showed that council had no ordinary residents at heart”.

“This is about top management welfare and not residents and we are doomed. Are the vehicles to be purchased going to be used to collect refuse, or attend to sewer bursts? Council must learn to prioritise service delivery issues and desist from being extravagant,” Mtimba said.

Masvingo Residents Forum secretary Prosper Tiringindi called for the reversal of the plan.

“We are opposed to this idea of buying top of range vehicles for senior managers at a time when the council is struggling to collect refuse due to shortage of refuse collection trucks, at a time while the local authority is struggling to provide water and at a time when there is a shortage of medicine in its clinics. Council must reverse that decision,” Tiringindi said.

Before putting matter for further consideration, council had recommended that the purchase of the vehicles will be done in two phases, with the first phase catering for chief environmental health officer, chamber secretary, and deputy director of engineering services and the second phase catering for the finance director, director of engineering services, administration manager and senior health officer.

Meanwhile, Masvingo City Council has procured 200 water meters to replace non-functional ones, a move that will improve the water billing system.

According to the minutes, the water meters will each be sold to residents at US$96.

“It was reported that council in its endeavour to produce accurate bills and reduce non-revenue water, procured 200 water meters to replace non-functional water meters in the city.

Management has identified Rujeko as the first district metering area and each of the water meters will be sold at $US 96 at prevailing bank rate,” read the council.

This follows an outcry by residents that water bills were based on estimates as the water meters were not functioning.