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Midlands Correspondent
REINSTATED Gweru Town Clerk Mr Daniel Matawu is allegedly demanding $1 million in outstanding salaries and package if Gweru City Council is willing to buy out his contract, The Herald has learnt. The local authority has been locked up in a series of meetings with Mr Matawu’s legal team to reach a compromise.

Indications are that he may get a package if the two parties reach a consensus.
Gweru Mayor Councillor Charles Chikozho last week confirmed that council officials have been holding marathon meetings with their legal representatives from Tawona and Jaravani Attorneys and Mr Reginald Chidawanyika representing Mr Matawu on the way forward for the better part of last week.

The Herald has it in good authority that Mr Matawu is demanding $ 1 million in terminal benefits and outstanding salaries backdating to 2016. Th Herald is reliably informed that Mr Matawu was getting $ 9 000 per month.
A source at the council said Mr Matawu was demanding $1 million.

Council is offering about $ 500 000.
“What is delaying the conclusion of the issue is that Mr Matawu wants $ 1 million in backdated salaries and terminal benefits.
The local authority is offering around $ 500 000,” said the source.

Gweru City Council spokesperson Dr Manford Gambiza could neither deny nor confirm the amount. Gweru residents have since written to Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo demanding that Government pays Mr Matawu his salary backdated since it was the ministry which erred in extending the tenure of the Commission.

Gweru Residents’ Association secretary-general Mr Theophelous Matongo said it was Government which appointed the commission and ratepayers’ money should not be used to pay Mr Matawu.

“We are informed that Gweru City Council is negotiating the package of Mr Matawu. We know his salary backdated to the time he was dismissed is over $200 000.”