Govt rejects Gweru City Council's proposal to give out stands to workers in place of outstanding salaries for 2015

Government has rejected Gweru City Council’s proposal to give out residential stands to its workers as a substitute of their outstanding salaries and bonus payments for 2015.

Town clerk, Elizabeth Gwatipedza told NewsDay yesterday that the proposal was rejected by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who directed them to seek other revenue sources to clear the backlog. Last year, council finance director, Edgar Mwedzi, said the local authority had agreed with workers to set aside their outstanding salaries and bonuses for the purchase of residential stands.

The local authority owes employees five months’ salaries, as well as 2015 bonuses. In 2015, council offered residential stands to employees at its now-defunct liquor entity, Go Beer Breweries, to offset salary arrears in a bid to avoid legal proceedings.