“They have displayed Judas Iscariot traits by rubber stamping this illegal supplementary budget,” said David Mutambirwa. “The move is a mockery to ratepayers and should be dismissed with the contempt that it deserves”
These sentiments come in the wake of Mutare City Council increasing user charges to finance a supplementary budget which was rejected by residents, as city fathers are left facing the wrath of residents for neglecting their duties.
Mutambirwa is coordinator of United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA) an organisation representing ratepayers’ interests, formed in 1965, it is the oldest residents association.
He speaks in reference to user fees hikes which exposed councillors for their willingness to perpetuate hefty management pecks at the expense of service delivery, at the enticement of similar raises.
Mutambirwa bemoans betrayal by councillors as he calls for residents to boycott paying the new schedule of charges with high rates of between 100% and 350% increase.
“We are urging residents not to pay these new fees because they are illegal. Council has lost direction, they seem not to be living in the same country we are living in where there is high unemployment, rampant job losses, liquidity crisis and people survive from hand to mouth,” he said.
He added, “These incentives should not have deterred the councillors from serving their primary roles, they were elected by people. We feel very much betrayed by councillors.”
Banking on an overdraft
The state of affairs at the local municipality is an unacceptable scenario of mismanagement synonymous of urban councils in the country. Propped by a $3 million FBC over draft facility, the picture is not rosy as the council is also saddled with unsustainably high employment costs, due to a blotted workforce
Under prevailing harsh macroeconomic conditions, misplaced management priorities, hefty top management packages as well as rampant corruption the municipality service delivery systems have been rendered practically dysfunctional.
A recent budget review shows that the City is already operating unsustainably and outside legal parameters with 73% on employment cost while 8% of its budget was reserved for service delivery.
Indications are also that city fathers spent the bulk of the collected revenue $4.5 million on employment costs $3.3 million (73%), administration consuming over $800 000(19%), repairs $123 000 (3%), maintenance and interest redemption took the remainder.
Essentially council used less than 10% of its revenue on its primary mandate, ironically the bulk is consumed by employment costs despite council having not paid its workers for over 18 months.
A recent special audit on employment issues opened a Pandora’s Box which saw former Town Clerk Obert Muzawazi resigning from his post, as a ministerial team led by Director Erica Jones called for sanity at Civic Centre
Despite government instructions to trim employment cost, Mutare city continues gobbling a staggering 92% of its revenue in employment (73%) and management (19%) costs, with a paltry 8% for service delivery.
Proliferation corruption at Civic Centre over the years saw the birth of subsequent residents’ bodies at the turn of the millennium, to advocate for transparency and accountability.
Projects Officer of one such the residents’ body, Edson Dube for United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT) accused the council of having misplaced priorities.
UMRRT organised the initial resistance of the supplementary budget, after arguing successfully that making any increase during difficult economic hardships was irresponsible.
He said council now risks inviting the wrath of residents who are currently burdened as some residents threatened officials during the heated consultations.
Dube said councillors were also seeking to benefit from the smuggled supplementary budget through a substantial $32 000 for Apple I Pads, as well as standing to have a windfall of $21 000 in allowance increase.
Significant increases were health user fees from $2 to $10 for adults and $5 for children while maternity patients will have to fork out $20 from $15, despite the municipality facilities having limited medicine.
“Council’s actions are misguided and a clear indication of misplaced priorities how can they make such increase of 350 percent when residents roundly rejected the proposal of the supplementary budget.
“It’s illegal and highly irresponsible for them to operate in disregard of the residents’ body,” said Dube.
The contentious supplementary budget which totals just over $471 000, has objectives of funding acquisition of Apple I Pads, allowance increase for councillors as well as a substantial management salary adjustment.
Roundly rejected by residents
Residents roundly rejected the proposed supplementary budget that would also have seen expenditure of $234 000 being spent on struggling Mutare City Rovers, netball and tug of war teams, with no expenditure for service delivery.
At a consultation held at Sports Oval grounds in Sakubva on July 4 in Ward 1, residents walked out on management staff and councillors led by Kenneth Kagoro and Thomas Nyamupanendeungu who sought to publicize the budget.
After being bombarded with questions by residents, councillors failed to justify their decision to hike charges to fund non essential expenditure, leading to residents storming off the grounds in protest.
Subsequent consultations scheduled for Ward 2 in the afternoon, as well as remaining of the 19 wards were abandoned before a special council meeting was convened to abandon the budget.
Fears still abound that council could still be pushing ahead in implementing the supplementary budget as I Pad acquisition tenders had been flighted before consultations had commenced.
“We are not sure if council is sincere now because well before the consultations for the supplementary budget an advert for the I Pads was in national paper. So it simply meant that council was just coming to the people to rubber stamp a plan they were already implementing, no wonder why they have increased fees despite residents saying no,” said Dube.
However Mayor Councillor Tatenda Nhemarare professed ignorance of the increase stating that the controversial supplementary budget had been stopped.
His flimsy denial was based on the fact that he was not in the office, despite council already proceeding with the new charges.
“I will need to find out because I was not in the office. I am not aware where the concerns (of residents) are coming from because I haven’t got such a report from anyone.
“I will find out because as far as I am concerned we stopped the supplementary budget, we agreed to only review the budget at the end of the year,” he said.
