Chombo probes local authorities

via Chombo probes local authorities July 14, 2014

THE government has dispatched auditors to investigate remuneration at local authorities, months after it was revealed that some officials were paying themselves obscene salaries.

Early this year it was revealed that executives were awarding themselves “obscene” packages with some town clerks earning as much as $20 000.

Cabinet moved to impose a $6 000 cap on perks and a task force was launched to probe the salaries.

Beitbridge senator Tambudzani Mohadi last week asked Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo on measures that have been taken against officials that were found guilty of offences relating to the high salaries and allowances.

However, Chombo through his deputy Joel Biggie Matiza told Senate remuneration audits in local authorities were still on-going.

“Information relevant to salaries and allowances of management in rural district councils and urban councils has been furnished to the Office of the President and Cabinet through my ministry,” Chombo said.

“This was done in the context of the on-going exercise to come up with an appropriate remuneration framework for parastatals, State enterprises and local authorities. The same information was subsequently published in the media.

“However, following receipt of the information in question, it became apparent that the data needed to be authenticated.

“Accordingly, under the direction of the Cabinet Committee on State Enterprises and Parastatals Development, auditors have been deployed to local authorities to establish the quantum of salaries, allowances and other benefits that local authorities, chief executive officers are getting.”

Chombo added: “Once that process is concluded, the said Cabinet committee will then finalise the remuneration for local authority staff.

“These audits will establish whether or not salaries, allowances and other benefits being received by individual chief executive officers/town clerks/town secretaries were procedurally awarded.

“Once that process is concluded, the ministry will be in a position to take appropriate action to rectify any identified anomalies.”

Chombo in May deployed a probe team to Gwanda after it emerged that its former town clerk Gilbert Mlilo was among the highest earners in the country.

According to figures that were released by Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa at the time Mlilo’s basic pay was $6 766, but it was pumped up by numerous allowances.
Mlilo has since retired.