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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Harare City Council top executives have continued to receive mega salaries against Government’s directive that earnings for government institutions, parastatals and local authorities should not exceed $6 000 per month, Parliament heard on Tuesday. Presenting a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee report on Local Government and Urban Development on service delivery by city of Harare, chairperson Cde Irene Zindi (Zanu-PF), said the managers were reluctant to disclose benefits that they were enjoying.

“The committee was disappointed to note that the salaries reflected were very high. However, the list relating to benefits had no figures.

“The committee requested the town clerk to provide figures for the benefits and the management of City of Harare appeared reluctant to provide the information,” said Cde Zindi while presenting the committee’s report.

“Specifically the committee wanted figures in respect of each grade but the answers provided never reflected exactly how much each person gets as allowances.

“The committee realised that what was reported in the media regarding salaries for senior management might actually be true.”

She said management had failed to provide the committee with a council resolution approving their current salaries but instead submitted an approved salary structure in respect of the Zimbabwe dollar.

According a schedule, town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi earned $23 300 basic salary and benefits.

Parliament was told that Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni had failed to access the salary schedule of senior management despite a request he made.

On service delivery, Mr Manyenyeni had expressed pessimism on the possibility of the capital city attaining world class status by 2025.

The committee recommended that there be one Government ministry responsible on issuing route permits to commuter operators and that there be enough ranks with adequate facilities.

A call to introduce a city urban public transport system was also made by the committee.

Making a contribution to the report Glen Norah MP, Mr Webster Maondera (MDC-T) complained that service delivery in local authorities was being hamstrung by interference from central government through Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo.

Mr Maondera said Minister Chombo would just unilaterally reserve a council decision. Kuwadzana East MP, Mr Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) said there was need to ensure that parliamentary committee reports were implemented by the Executive.

“We need to deal with issues of implementation so that we do not become a talk-show or a rubber stamping platform,” said Mr Chamisa.