THE Beitbridge Rural District Council (BDC) chief executive officer (CEO) is the highest paid RDC official in the country with a total monthly package of $5 209,76, according to figures submitted to the National Assembly.
NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing deputy minister Joel Biggie Matiza tabled the figures last week and the Speaker Jacob Mudenda ruled that MPs could respond to the figures when the House resumes its sitting today.
MDC-T Kambuzuma MP Willies Madzimure had asked the ministry to give a detailed breakdown of salaries and other benefits being paid to town clerks and directors of city councils.
The BDC CEO’s package consists of a basic salary of $3 361,26, cellphone, electricity and water bills of $1 680,44 and a representation fee of $168,06.
That is just slightly below the pay of the Gweru town clerk who rakes in $5 506 and more than the Redcliff town clerk who gets $4 903,20.
The Hwange Local Board secretary earns $5 178,64 while the Umzingwane RDC CEO gets $4 924. The Umguza RDC CEO is also among the top earners with $4 348.
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Nkayi RDC CEO is paid 3470,68, Lupane Local board secretary ($2 122,07), Bulilima RDC ($3 950), Gwanda RDC ($3 538) and Mangwe RDC ($3 107,29).
The Matobo RDC CEO gets $2 480,64, Insiza RDC ($3 222,96), Gokwe North RDC ($1 909,90), Gokwe South RDC ($2 745), Gutu RDC ($3 328,97), Masvingo RDC ($3 568,53), Bubi RDC ($3 491), Binga RDC ($3 830) Kusile RDC ($2 596,69), Tsholotsho RDC ($3 730) and the Mberengwa RDC CEO is among the least paid in the country with $1 737.
Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya said the RDC salaries were within a reasonable budget width adding that they were still in the process of verifying the salaries and the authenticity of the published figures.
“Nothing is wrong with the salaries; they are actually within a reasonable budget, but meanwhile we are still in the process of trying to verify the legitimacy of the figures,” he said yesterday.
“However, comparing with the urban district chief executive officers, the rural district CEOs are getting way less and we are yet to look into that.
“We also cannot dismiss the fact that the reason the urban CEOs are getting more salaries could be because of their ability to collect more revenue, but we will also look into that matter closely,” Machaya said.
His Matabeleland North counterpart Cain Mathema said there was nothing he could say about the salaries.
“I have got nothing to say about the salaries because the government has made the decision,” he said.
“What else can I say really, unless you want me to say something different from what the government has done?”
The figures tabled by Matiza in the National Assembly are different from the ones publicised by Finance Patrick Chinamasa which triggered an outcry.
According to the Local Government ministry list, Bulawayo town clerk Middleton Nyoni earns a gross salary of $9 439,19 compared to $11,379 released by Chinamasa.
Gwanda town clerk Gilbert Mlilo earns $18 945,81 and not the $20,588 while Plumtree Town Council secretary Davis Dumezweni Luthe, who Chinamasa said earned $17 000, only gets $3 886,55. The Beitbridge Town Council secretary grosses $14 106 and not $15,210.
Victoria Falls town clerk Phillip Ndlovu is paid $6 891,30 compared to the $16 199 released last month.
Gweru town clerk Daniel Matawu gets $5 506 compared to $ 6 475.
Kwekwe town clerk Emmanuel Musara earns $6 467,86 and not $7 863 whereas Masvingo town clerk Adolf Gusha gets $8 017,55 instead of $11 298.
Redcliff town clerk rakes in $4 903,20 and the Shurugwi Town secretary $1 657,08 and Gokwe Town Council secretary $3 640.
