FINANCE minister Patrick Chinamasa has warned that town clerks who earned “obscene” and untaxed salary perks could be charged as they shortchanged ratepayers and the government.
MOSES MATENGA STAFF REPORTER
Announcing a Cabinet decision to impose a $6 000 salary cap on public officials’ earnings on Tuesday, Chinamasa said results of a government audit would address the alleged immorality.
“I never realised Plumtree was that big with benefits of $15 000. The salary is around $1 000 and in a bar, the chief executive officer (CEO) would complain just like any other that he was getting $1 000 pay, but if you look at benefits, you realise they were making money,” Chinamasa said.
“The load was on the benefits section and our suspicion was this was a trick to run away from taxation which is why our decision is that the $6 000 including salary and benefits so that the income tax laws apply to the package.”
While the local authorities were struggling to provide services, it emerged that town bosses salaries in most cases were inflated allowances to evade tax.
In Plumtree, the town clerk was getting a monthly salary of $1 173 and a package of $15 854.
For other cities like Masvingo, the city boss got a basic monthly salary of $2 506, but took home a gross salary of $11 298 after benefits had been factored in.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Harare town clerk led the pack with a whopping salary package of $23 313 followed by Gwanda town clerk Gilbert Mlilo who collected $20 588 a month in salaries and allowances.
Chitungwiza town clerk George Makunde came third with a total take home of $19, 663.
It also emerged that most local authorities had failed to comply with the directive by government on the ratio of 70-30% for service delivery and salaries respectively.
Other top earning town bosses are Plumtree town secretary Davis Dumezweni ($17 027); Victoria Falls town clerk Phillip Ndlovu ($16 199) and Beitbridge CEO Albert Mbedzi ($15 210).
