BCC in critical staff headache

THE Bulawayo City Council is facing a critical shortage of staff which could be affecting the local authority’s efforts to offer quality service delivery.

This comes amid revelations that the municipality has to rely on staff members acting in some positions that have gone for years without being filled.

Responding to questions, the local authority’s spokesperson, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu confirmed the development and said the local authority has 880 positions, across departments which were not filled.

“Our vacancy level is around 880 distributed across all levels and departments. Council took a decision on 5 May 2010 to freeze recruitment until revenue collections increased enough to cover staff costs and service delivery. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and National Housing later gave a directive on 29 September 2010 freezing recruitment as well.

“As such, any recruitment has to be sanctioned by the ministry which has been supportive whenever there are compelling reasons to fill any post. This year, the City of Bulawayo has managed to fill in the two director positions and an assistant director post,” said Mrs Mpofu.

She also said the council was in the process of filling the vacant positions of deputy directors and assistant directors across the departments but noted that this would be solely subject to cash flow improvements. She said while having a large number of staff members acting in key positions had its disadvantages, it also had its advantages inclusive of motivating their staff to continue developing themselves in anticipation of being appointed permanently.

“Having staff acting for prolonged periods has disadvantages such as hesitant decision-making, demoralisation due to uncertainty of who will finally land the position. However, there are various advantages presented by acting such as an opportunity to develop staff for future appointments. For the individuals there is motivation on being given a higher responsibility and there is continuous production as the organisation awaits the filling of vacant positions,” said Mrs Mpofu.

Last year, Minister Saviour Kasukuwere ordered councils in the country to employ qualified officials with Government noting that the continued engagement of unqualified personnel had a negative effect on service delivery.

This came in the backdrop of revelations that most local authorities are operating with unqualified heads of departments with most of them having gone for over five years without substantive HODs while others have had to employ under-qualified personnel to fill in strategic positions.