Council workers clock 9 months without pay

CHIREDZI Town Council has failed to pay hundreds of its workers their salaries for the past nine months as it continues to reel under shrinking revenue inflows that have compromised service delivery in the sugar growing town.

Council fears the declining revenue inflows might cripple its operations since it is also battling to service its debts running into millions of dollars.

Town secretary Mr Charles Muchatukwa yesterday said the local authority was owed $5,5 million by ratepayers and land developers.

He said council operations could grind to a halt unless its debtors start paying their debts.

“Council is facing a number of chal- lenges, which emanate mainly from dwindling revenue collections every month,” he said.

“As we speak council has various statutory obligations, which are unpaid together with salary arrears that continue to balloon.’’

He said Chiredzi Town was also battling to service a debt of $1,3 million owed to Lowveld sugar producer Tongaat Hulett for supply of water used in the town.

Mr Muchatukwa said council would be able to clear its arrears if its debtors settle their dues.

“Our target is to recover all the money which we are owed by the business community, residents and government departments. We feel if we collect all these dues we will have the capacity to clear our salary arrears to workers and also our dues to NSSA and ZIMRA,” he said.

Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association chairman Mr Jonathan challenged residents to settle their bills for the town council to deliver services.

“If we don’t pay for the water, sewer and refuse collection where do we expect our council to get money to maintain these services,” he said.

“Council needs money for it to provide us with the much needed services and also pay its employees, its worrying that employees have gone for nine months without pay because the town council has nothing in its coffers,” said Mr Muusha.

He however, also urged Chiredzi Town Council to stop expending resources on misplaced priorities.