THERE is an uproar at Harare City Council (HCC) amid reports that the local authority top brass is resisting salary cuts, with residents calling for their resignation.
It emerged yesterday that the council top brass is determined to continue receiving hefty perks.
Suspended town clerk, Hosiah Chisango, is still receiving a US$27 000 salary and huge perks despite the expiry of his contract, it has emerged.
Mathew Marara, an assistant to Chisango, is also reportedly receiving a hefty package.
An official at Town House yesterday told this publication that the top executives are resisting pay cuts.
“They are writing to the acting town clerk engineer Phakamile Mabhena and they are going to quote previous cases where Chingombe and Kwenda won their cases against salary cuts but the two won because their salaries were approved by council," the source said.
Former HCC human capital director Cainos Chingombe and finance director Tendai Kwenda won their cases against salary cuts.
“It is difficult for Marara and Chisango to win the cases as their salaries were not approved by Harare City Council,” the source said.
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“They are resisting pay cuts and they are defiant and we are going to see a major fight at Harare City Council."
Harare Residents Trust director, Precious Shumba, yesterday said the top brass should resign or residents will protest against them.
“They must not resist, they have an option to go and look for new jobs because we are suffering in Harare because of poor service delivery, if they refuse they should help themselves by leaving Harare City Council because there are competent people who are willing to work at Harare City for half the salary of those who are giving themselves hefty packages,” Shumba said.
“We cannot be held at ransom because of the need for good living, if they continue to hold us at ransom, then we are going to protest."
Combined Harare Residents Association director, Reuben Akili, said he was aware of the move to resist salary cuts.
“If it is true what l have heard then it is inhuman, they are giving themselves hefty salaries and we are protesting against such a move,” he said.
Harare mayor Jacob Mafume yesterday said some of the executives were marrying every year because of big packages.
“The reduction of salaries is inevitable and it is unquestionable, some of them are even awash with money that they are marrying every year. If anyone resists, we will liberate them from the organisation so that they will go and enjoy life with their wives.
Councillors last week grilled human capital director, Bosman Matengarufu, during a full council meeting on why Chisango and other executives were still receiving huge packages in the face of collapsing service delivery.
Council’s housing committee chairperson, Blessing Muroyiwa, accused Matengarufu of dishonesty when he was asked about how much the local authority was losing in salaries and perks to executives.
Matengarufu said reports of executives earning staggering salaries were not true, but failed to provide a pay schedule during the meeting.
