Councillors want allowances increase

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KWEKWE — Councillors are unhappy with Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo accusing him of neglecting their welfare and have called for an increase in allowance as a reward for their dedication.

KWEKWE — Councillors are unhappy with Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo accusing him of neglecting their welfare and have called for an increase in allowance as a reward for their dedication.

STAFF REPORTER

Kwekwe city councillors are currently getting about $200 in monthly allowances and they want it increased to $600.

According to the council’s finance committee meetings made available to our sister paper NewsDay, councillors want their package to include laptops, a residential stand each, free water, commercial or industrial stand each and medical and funeral cover, which should also cover their spouses.

The councillors also proposed that mayor Matenda Madzoke be given an allowance of $750 and his deputy Aaron Sithole $650.

However, town clerk Emmanuel Musara told the councillors that their proposals should be realistic.

Musara felt that the proposal to peg councillors’ allowances on the amount of the least paid employee was more reasonable.

According to a salary schedule presented to the councillors, the least paid Kwekwe City Council worker earns $444, including soap and transport allowance.

In the end, the city fathers resolved to apply to Chombo to approve that allowances be equivalent to the salary of the lowest paid employee.