Kombayi calls off Germany trip

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Gweru mayor Hamutendi Kombayi has called off his German trip following pressure from disgruntled council workers who described the exchange trip as of little financial benefit to the cash-strapped local authority.
Hamutendi Kombayi
Hamutendi Kombayi

Gweru mayor Hamutendi Kombayi has called off his German trip following pressure from disgruntled council workers who described the exchange trip as of little financial benefit to the cash-strapped local authority.

By Stephen Chadenga

Several councillors and mayors from other towns and cities would leave for the two-week-long technical co-operation exchange workshop this week.

Kombayi took to his Facebook wall yesterday to announce that he would not be attending the trip as he was grappling with problems bedevilling the local authority.

“I am supposed to be in Germany,” Kombayi wrote.

“My other mayors are landing in Germany on a GIZ (Germany International Co-operation) program. I know the importance of this trip, but Amai Chari (his mother) gave me an order (sic), even my workers committee.”

Kombayi added that in order to build the City of Gweru there was need to eliminate corruption and urged ratepayers to pay for services and avoid paying bribes to council workers. He said his council was going to address the issue of road maintenance and waste management.

“If there (sic) is a problem with your bill come rectify with council, we are not going back, we want accountability, transparency and good governance in our town,” he said.

Recently, an attempt by some MDC-T councillors to pass a vote of confidence on Kombayi hit a brickwall after the party’s provincial executive turned down their request.

Agitators led by councillors Albert Chirau (Ward 11) and Tawanda Magidi (Ward 16) wanted to pass a vote of no confidence on Kombayi following the recent strike by municipal workers over unpaid salaries.