THE Government has approved a 50 percent allowances
increase for councillors and mayors in the country and further awarded each
councillor a privilege of a residential and industrial stand during their
tenure in office.
The new cocktail of allowances and perks were announced by
Acting Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Permanent Secretary
Colonel (Rtd) Joseph Mhakayakora in a circular dated 9 September.
The new allowances and perks reportedly came after
deliberations between the Ministry and the Urban Councils Association of
Zimbabwe and the Association of Rural District Councils.
According to the circular, in Harare, the mayor’s allowance
has been increased from $1 250 to $1 775, Deputy Mayor from $840 to $1 350,
committee chairpersons; from $560 to $950 while councillors’ perks have been
raised from $550 to $930.
In Bulawayo, the ministry has approved that the mayor gets
an allowance of $1 475 up from $1 000, deputy mayor; $1 400 up from $660,
committee chairpersons; $900 up from $450 while councillors receive $780 up
from $400. In other cities, mayors’ allowances have been increased from $840 to
$1 325, deputy mayor from; $550 to $1 050, committee chairpersons; from $370 to
$850 and councillors; from $250 to $730.
For municipalities, the ministry has approved that mayors
get; $1 050 up from $600; deputy mayors; $890 up from $400, committee
chairpersons; $830 up from $360 while councillors will get $780 up from $300.
For town councils and local boards, the chairpersons now get $950 up from $560,
deputy chairpersons; $850 up from $350, committee chairpersons; $790 up from
$300 and councillors; $780 up from $250.
For Lupane and Chirundu the chairperson now gets; $850 up
from $350, the deputy chairperson; $730 up from $280, committee chairpersons;
$740 up from $240 while councillors will get $730 up from $200. For rural
district councils, chairpersons will now get $900 up from $230, deputy
chairpersons; $730 up from $170, committee chairpersons; $770 up from $160 and
councillors now get $730 up from $140.
For travel and subsistence allowances the ministry
announced that out of pocket allowance be increased from $10 to $30 per 24-hour
period, breakfast; from $10 to $30, lunch; from $20 to $50 and dinner allowance
to be increased from $25 to $60, while unapproved overnight accommodation is
now pegged at $100.
“To facilitate serving councillors to live in a dignified
manner, the Honourable Minister has granted permission to a councillor who does
not have a residence within his or her ward, to be allocated a single
residential stand, in their lifetime, within that ward . . . The stand is to be
offered to the councillor at a discount of 40 percent of the normal value. To
facilitate serving councillors to have a source of income, other than council,
the Honourable Minister has granted permission to a councillor to be allocated
a single business or industrial stand in their lifetime. The stand is to be
offered to the councillor on a lease with the option to purchase,” reads part
of the circular.
In both cases title deeds of the stands will be offered
after the completion of construction and the councillors are not allowed to
sell or cede the lease during their terms in office.
Rtd Col Mhakayakora further warned councillors that the
awarding of the stands was a privilege and not an entitlement, just to ensure
that councillors live in a dignified manner.
“The stands acquired in terms of this circular are not for
profit or aggrandisement. Where relatives of the councillor wish to acquire
stands, they should follow the normal council procedures,” reads the circular.
The ministry also approved that the councillors get free
parking space and a grave during their tenure in office. On the purchasing of
electronic equipment, the ministry said if a council wishes to do that, it
should be done with the approval of the ministry.
“The application to the minister must contain justification
for the purchase, the budget line and amount budgeted for same, the type of
equipment and justification, the costs and conditions attached to the use of
the equipment. The minister has also put restrictions on the holding of
workshops, seminars, trainings and similar events outside of the council
jurisdiction unless authority to hold the function at an alternative venue has
been sanctioned by the Permanent Secretary,” reads the circular.
In April, UCAZ came up with a position paper which they
forwarded to the Ministry at an Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe
consultation meeting on Councillors Conditions of Service which was held at the
Bulawayo Council chambers. Sunday News
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