By Dumisani Ndlovu
Gweru councillors are up in arms with finance management over the recently approved 2023 budget, accusing them of deceit and disregard of stakeholder input.
The budget was recently approved by Minister of Local Government and Public Work, Hon. July Moyo along with those several other local authorities.
Gweru City Council budget was pegged at 46 million USD, with GCC hoping that the budget will drive the city to be a sustainable prosperous city of choice by 2030.
After citywide consultations and outcry from residents over exorbitant household bills, Gweru Mayor Hamutendi Kombayi, speaking during the official switching on of Christmas lights at the Civic Centre in December 2022, announced that the budget had been reduced to US36 million.
After the recent approval of the budget at US$37 million, Mayor Kombayi said the approved budget was not what they had agreed with stakeholders and accused management, specifically Deputy Finance Director Owen Masimba, for deceiving Councilors and residents by imposing a 20% increase financial plan.
The explosive issue was triggered by the Mayor, Kombayi and supported by some Councillors and residents in one of the local residents social media platform, Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association (GUPRARDA), exposing a rift between Councillors and management.
The Mayor alleged irregularities in the council’s financial planning and manipulation of resident’s budget.
“I am disappointed by Masimba who after adding the 4% tax we agreed on with residents, he willy-nilly increased it to 20%, doing a killing to residents.
“This is highest degree of criminality. What pains me most is that I spent the whole month on the ground engaging residents; we agreed on a 4% increment but when the budget came from the Minister it has 20% increment.
“Although he thinks we are not educated, we managed to identify where the problem is, “he said.
The Mayor was pushing for the local authority not to increase tariffs in the 2023 budget after rebasing rates in 2022 in order to provide relief to residents and the business community.
He accused the Deputy Finance Director of sabotaging the local authority, as former Acting Director, by deliberately misguiding the new substantive Finance Director, Mr Livingstone Churu by providing wrong institutional memory in the department.
Most residents said they suspect this has been going on for some time.
One of the Counccilors and Chairperson of the Audit Commuttee, Cllr Albert Chirau said as is evidenced by the broad budget consultations made last year, the councillors are very much on the side of the citizens and business community and he is happy residents are equally on the side of the Councilors.
“I think residents are behind us and we have actually rightly pointed out where the problem is, in terms of executing agreements that we agreed with the residents as far as consultations are concerned.
“Our budget as defended to the Minister must remain at 37 million from 43 if not 46.
“So in that regard, the issue of saying we are adding another 15% percent, it now give us a misrepresentation of facts to the Councillors, that’s a chargeable offence.
“It is within your power, Your Worship (Kombayi) to give a directive and command that a certain action be taken,” said Cllr Chirau.
GUPRARDA Director, Pastor David Chikore said “Your Worship, after listening to your two last audios, it shows that Council is convinced that bhora ririkufira pana Mr Masimba (Masimba is at faulty) who you say is holding Council at ransom by manipulating institutional memory.
“Your Worship, if this is indeed the case, then munhu ngaaende kumusha(let him be dismissed).
“Stakeholders should not be made to suffer because of Management war.”
Speaking at the recent budget consultation meeting, Minister July Moyo urged councils to formulate realistic budgets that address matters of public interest.
Contacted for comment Masimba Finance Director Owen Masimba said” I am not in any social media whatsapp group rema residents,,so I have no knowledge of the discussions ,so I’m not even aware of such discussions. So it will not be proper for me to comment in the dark.
After sending the Mayor’s audio he only said “nhaimi” and went offline.