Council directs 75 percent revenue to salaries
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) could find themselves in trouble with the Government as they have been directing just 25 percent of revenue towards service delivery with the rest going towards salaries.
According to the Government stipulations, local authorities are supposed to adhere to 70 percent salaries while 30 percent goes to services with councils required by law to submit yearly budgets that reflect the ratio. However, Sunday News can reveal that the local authority has since January not been adhering to this ratio.
In January, according to a council report, the local authority used 76 percent of its monthly revenue for the payment of salaries, this translating to $309 547 266 after collecting $407 952 849. In the same month, $80 million (20 percent) was used for general expenses and $18 million was used for repairs. Nothing was directed to maintenance, capital charges, capital contributions and recharges.
“As at 31 January 2022, expenditure amounted to $407 952 849 of which salaries were 76 percent of the total expenditure followed by general expenses at 20
RESIDENTS in Gwanda have called on the council to find a lasting solution to erratic water supplies in the town which have been mostly affecting those living in high lying areas.
The erratic water supplies have been attributed to an obsolete water pipe system in the town and poor pumping regime.
Some suburbs go for a week without tap water while others are affected by low pressure supply. The town’s water pipe system is old and cannot withstand pressure which results in percent, repairs — four percent as for maintenance, capital charges, and capital contributions they were all at zero percent. There was a slow start on discretionary expenditure (that is expenditure on non-salary items) due to the delay in approving the budget,” reads the report.
In February the local authority also directed 76 percent of its total revenue to paying salaries after collecting $1 billion of which $777 million went to salaries followed by general expenses at $205 million (20 percent), repairs $39,9 million (four percent) with maintenance, capital charges, and capital contributions not getting any funding.
For March, BCC, after collecting $1,3 billion used 72 percent of the money to pay their salaries.
“As at 31 March 2022, expenditure amounted to $1,9 billion of which salaries were 72 percent ($1,3 billion) of the total expenditure followed by general expenses at 23 percent ($413 million), repairs four percent ($67 million), recharges two percent ($34 million) as for maintenance, capital charges, and capital contributions they were all at zero percent,” reads the report.
In April, of the $2,8 billion raised by council $2,1 billion was used for the paying of salaries which translates to 75 percent of the total expenditure followed by general expenses at 19 percent ($530 million). frequent pipe bursts thereby disrupting supply.
The pumping system does not have the capacity to pump water to all high lying areas. Some residents resort to collecting water from burst pipes when supplies are disrupted. The situation has worsened during the past weeks. Gwanda residents have said they need a lasting solution to their water problems which have persisted for long.
“We haven’t had reliable water supply in this town for a long time. I stay in Jacaranda suburb and sometimes we go for a week without tap water.
“When the water comes the pressure will be very low and we spend long hours trying to fill
According to a council confidential report, the local authority notes their dire straits, in response to a request for a salary adjustment by its workers, who demanded that employees be awarded a basic salary of $100 000 and a Cost of Living Adjustment of $30 000.
“Council’s billing income for March 2022 is $1,1 billion. The proposed gross wage bill is $1,2 billion which exceed billing income. The collectability of billed income currently stands at 60 percent which is not enough to cover the workers union’s quarter position. Collections have remained subdued, with a monthly average of $750 million. The collections cannot meet the current expenditure which is at $1,2 billion,” reads the report.
According to the position paper from the council workers, they noted that they had been disadvantaged after salary adjustment negotiations had taken place for the first quarter of the year.
“Our position is that all grades have notch difference of three notches across the board, that employees be awarded a basic salary of $100 000 as the poverty datum line is currently at $102 000. That council cushions its employees with a COLA of $30 000 as any delay in salary negotiation adjustments always impacts negatively on the monetary value of the worker and that salary reviews continue to be done quarterly,” reads the position paper.
Residents call for solution to erratic water supply
up containers. It’s difficult to live under such circumstances because at the end of the month we get billed for water that we hardly use,” said Ms Victoria Moyo.
She added: “As urban dwellers we expect better service delivery where we can access water and if there are challenges they need to be communicated.”
Ms Duduzile Sebatha from Spitzkop North Extension said they were experiencing erratic water supply in their area.
She said they normally use water which they collect in buckets instead of tap water. Ms Sebatha said it was difficult especially when living with young children. - @DubeMatutu.