Harare City Council Spends $10 Million Salaries Every Month

Harare Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni has claimed that the city’s council spends $10 million on salaries every month.

At a meeting with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Mayor Manyenyeni appealed to the Government to take over the salary bill but Permanent secretary Mr George Magosvongwe reportedly told him that there was no commitment to that.Said Manyenyeni:

Just illustrations, which I believe are sustainable across the entire council payroll, I will indicate that a council municipal guard or patrolman costs the city $1 057 per month while a ZRP (officer) costs (Government) just $400 per month, which is 2,5 times higher. A council nursing sister costs the city $1 527 while a Government nursing sister (earns) just over $500, that is more than three times. A private clinic sister earns between $650 and $1 000. Other indications are that a council farm guard costs $907.

Manyenyeni said a messenger costs council $520, a driver $899, heavy-duty driver $1 058 and a municipal sergeant $1 266. All this, he said, translates to nearly $10 million coming from between $12 million and $13 million collected. He said the salaries were granted by Government in 2013.

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