RUSAPE Town Council has passed a resolution to borrow a
staggering $6 million to buy luxury cars for senior executives, triggering a
backlash from furious residents.
The residents described the planned spending spree as
unnecessary and extravagant since service delivery was at the lowest ebb in the
town.
The residents said RTC was prioritising luxury vehicles at
the expense of perennial problems like erratic water supply, burst sewer pipes,
untrafficable roads and inadequate schools in the town.
A no-holds-barred full council meeting held in December had
rejected the proposal to purchase the cars for $6 million through lease
financing which attracts exorbitant interest.
RTC seeks to purchase a Toyota Fortuner for town secretary
Mr Solomon Gabaza and double cabs for heads of department (HODs).
Two HODs have gone for more than two years without council
vehicles.
The issue has divided council with Ward 6’s Cllr Blessmore
Pambureni saying council should instead borrow to finance essential services
such as upgrading water and sewer reticulation infrastructure, road equipment
and machinery before feting executive officials.
He said the latest move by RTC was against the directive
issued by President Mnangagwa recently in Bulawayo, where he strongly warned
local authorities against extravagant expenditures at the expense of service
delivery.
“We have an unprecedented water crisis in Rusape and it is
insensitive to the plight of residents to borrow to finance luxury. The
President warned us against spending a fortune on luxurious cars, but on
service delivery. We can only buy cars when service delivery and the economy
have improved,” said Cllr Pambureni.
Works and planning committee chairman Cllr Ndabanenge
Mataga (Ward 7) said council was seeking to appease a few individuals at the
expense of the suffering masses.
“The current economic situation in the country is
unfavourable for that. Yes, it’s specified in their contracts, but we cannot
afford it at the moment. A husband cannot demand conjugal rights from a wife
admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” charged Cllr Mataga.
Vice chairman and Ward 10 Cllr Peter Kwesha said council
could not buy luxuryedcars when revenue collection and service delivery had
gone down.
“Council’s collection efficiency has drastically gone done.
Let us listen to the concerns of the residents first. We should not burden the
residents, but look at other options like cheaper vehicles or offsetting the
cars with stands,” said Cllr Kwesha.
Ward 1 Cllr Patrick Chipere said council risks being sued
for failing to honour its part of the bargain.
“There is danger of being sued. We also took the decision
to protect the council fleet. If we don’t buy them these vehicles now they will
use pool cars, and at the end of five years we will be forced to buy them brand
new personal vehicles in fulfilment of their contracts,” said Cllr Chipere.
Council chairman Lyton Sithole last week hastily convened a
special full council meeting in less than the prescribed 24 hours’ notice to
railroad the resolution.
After facing resistance from some councillors, Cllr Sithole
put the matter to vote and five voted for the purchase of the cars.
Residents said such borrowings should have their blessing
since their rates will be used to service the debt.
They want the council to satisfactorily account for the
revenue collected from them so far, before deciding to borrow from anywhere,
and to reveal how the debt will be serviced and whether this will result in an
increase in the rates paid by residents.
They have threatened to petition the Minister of Local
Government expressing their objection to the idea of borrowing to finance
luxury. Manica Post
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