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Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
CHINHOYI council is at loggerheads with its workers over US$11 million owed in salary arrears following an arbitration award in  2010.
It has emerged that the managers are set to receive about US$8 million from the amount, with general workers getting US$2,8 million.However, in the face of the municipality’s inability to pay the required amount, a deal is said to have been hammered to transfer the value to residential stands, which resulted in some people, especially in management earmarked to get as many as six stands apiece.

There are concerns in council that the arbitration process was not handled properly as the municipality was not represented and did not oppose or appeal against the  award.

This has raised serious conflict of interest and corporate governance issues as management benefited.

About 365 workers in Grades 6 to 16 are expected to share about US$2,8 million among themselves, while Grades 1 to 5 which constitute middle management and the town clerk, are expected to share about US$8,2 million.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a councillor said management could not look out for the best interests of the municipality as they had vested interests in the outcome of the arbitration.

“To our surprise the matter was not responded to or opposed by our own legal team and we feel that the actions prejudiced the residents who looked up to council to protect them,” said the councillor.

Pegging of stands valued at US$6 per square metre, which would translate to about 200 hectares of land — enough to set up a suburb — was suspended by council shortly after commencement.

Chinhoyi mayor Mr Test Michaels said council was studying the arbitration award and would soon set up a commission of enquiry to establish what took place and come up with recommendations.

“As council, we do not think the award was handled properly,” he said.

“We are not sure what exactly transpired but we feel we have to check and see if there is not going to be any prejudice to the residents and the municipality.”

Mr Michaels said council could not sanction the parcelling out of land without a ministerial directive as this translated to vast swathes of land.