Zimbabwe’s urban and rural council officials blew thousands of United States dollars after they were “directed” to attend First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s cooking event held in Victoria Falls last week, it has emerged.
The Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) is said to have directed all urban councils to support the event.
UCAZ secretary-general Livison Mutekede wrote to urban councils saying leaders from the country’s 92 local authorities should attend the programme.
The association advised the local authorities to foot their bills including accommodation, transport and subsistence allowances.
“The United Nations African Gastronomy Forum in Zimbabwe in collaboration with the Angel of Hope Foundation will be holding a regional cookout competition and nhanga/gota programme where the region will be showcasing skills in preparing traditional dishes from their countries,” read the letter dated July 18 seen by NewsDay.
“On the 27th of July 2024, there will be a ground-breaking ceremony of the school of cookout, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be the guest of honour.
“In view of the foregoing, town clerks, secretaries and mayors and chairpersons are being invited to the cookout competition and nhanga/gota programme and the ground-breaking ceremony which will be held in Victoria Falls from 26 to 28 July, 2024,” he said.
The officials travelled between July 25 and 29.
- Female politicians complain over sexual harassment
- Zimbabwe’s lobby to lift ivory trade ban stutters
- Involve communities in conservation, says Ndlovu
- Zimbabwe’s lobby to lift ivory trade ban stutters
Keep Reading
Sources at urban councils yesterday said officials received between US$7 000 and US$10 000 as allowances for the trip to Victoria Falls.
“According to the UCAZ letter, the town clerks, mayors [for town councils and cities], chief executives and chairpersons [for rural district councils] were supposed to attend.
“Mind you whenever the programme involves the First Family, no one wants to be left out as it might be viewed as sabotage and not in support of government programmes.
They also revealed that at least US$2 840 is required for five days after driving to Victoria Falls.
The sources said an official was entitled to US$120 in travel and subsistence allowance per day hence US$600 for five days.
“An official can get US$1 000 for accommodation, US$600 for fuel (for example, someone travelling from Mutare), US$500 for entertainment and US$140 for toll fees,” the sources said.
They said an official who opted to fly to Victoria Falls could get as much as US$3 000 for five days after flying to the event because they would need at least US$900 for car hire at US$180 per day.
“We could be conservative on accommodation, but knowing Victoria Falls the rates could be higher especially for the fact that these high profile people will opt for executive rooms,” they said.
Residents’ representatives from across Zimbabwe condemned the UCAZ directive which comes at a time when service delivery has virtually collapsed in local authorities.
United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust programmes director Edson Dube said the event devoured ratepayer’s money.
“These trips are consuming a lot of money, what only makes sense is when you have a workshop which has a direct impact on the issue of service delivery that is a necessity. This comes as a cost which expenditure cannot be allowed,” he said.
Chitungwiza Progressive Residents Association secretary-general Gift Kurupati said the local authorities could not afford to attend such an event.
“As we speak our taps are running dry, yet they can afford to go for such a costing event using our money, UCAZ must fund its own programmes. The workers were not paid their salaries for the past three months but council acted as if they have surplus,” he said.
Masvingo Residents and Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba expressed shock at the UCAZ invitation.
“As residents, we are utterly shocked and perplexed by this invitation by UCAZ to our city fathers who are going to spend ratepayers’ money in travel, accommodation and allowances to attend this competition that has nothing to do with the provision of service delivery,” he said.
“To us this is abuse of ratepayers’ money because the presence of our city leaders will not add any value to a mere cooking competition which is not in any case linked to local governance activities.”
He said UCAZ should desist from abusing their leaders.
Combined Harare Residents Association director Reuben Akili accused UCAZ of abusing local authorities.
“I was shocked that in this age UCAZ is abusing local authorities to such a level and as residents in the country we are going to engage the association because it will continue to abuse its authority,” he said.
