Kasukuwere hikes councillors allowances

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LOCAL Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere has reportedly hiked councillors’ sitting allowances in a move that would see the Harare mayor pocketing $1 250 a month, his deputy $840, while a committee chairperson will take home $560 and ordinary councillors would be entitled to $550.

LOCAL Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere has reportedly hiked councillors’ sitting allowances in a move that would see the Harare mayor pocketing $1 250 a month, his deputy $840, while a committee chairperson will take home $560 and ordinary councillors would be entitled to $550.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

According to a Local Government circular shown to NewsDay, the Bulawayo mayor will earn $1 000, while his deputy $660, committee chairpersons ($450) and $400 for ordinary councillors.

Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni confirmed receiving the new pay structure from Kasukuwere last Tuesday.

saviour-kasukuwere-(3) LOCAL Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere

“The reports are true, we received a note signed by the minister spelling out the new allowances by category and this note might just be implemented by the end of the month,” he said.

However, Local Government permanent secretary George Mlilo denied existence of such a circular.

“An official circular will be issued to councils and they can’t communicate this information to the Press because that will be a violation of the Official Secrets Act,” he said.

If the circular is implemented, mayors of other cities will now earn $840 and deputies will get $550, while councillors are set to earn $350. Mayors for smaller towns will now earn $600, with deputies getting $400 while councillors will now get $300. Committee chairpersons will get $60 more than councillors.

Local board chairpersons will now earn $560, their deputies $350, committee chairpersons $300 and councillors $250.

Chirundu and Lupane have their own special rates, with the chairperson earning $350 and deputy getting $280, committee chairpersons will get $240, while councillors earn $200.

Kwekwe mayor Matenda Madzoke said he was yet to receive the circular, adding his team will continue getting $150 monthly allowances until the minister had directed them otherwise.

“We have known of these new allowances for months now, but we can’t implement this based on word of mouth, we await official communication from the minister on this issue,” he said.

Madzoke currently takes home $250 per month, way below the council’s lowest paid worker who earns $440 including allowances.