The Sunday Mail
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo has advised Chitungwiza Town Council to retrench some employees and remain with a manageable workforce whose remuneration can be guaranteed. Dr Chombo told the National Assembly during Minister’s Question Time last Wednesday that it was up to council to take or leave the advice.
“When employees, whether employed by local authorities, private companies or any entity, work they are entitled to a salary. The Chitungwiza situation is the same.
The hard-working Chitungwiza workers put in their time but what they collect from the residents by way of rates, tariffs and levies is not enough to pay for the wages that they earn.
“It, therefore, becomes critical that the city fathers; the mayor and the councillors, have got to make decisions, whether to retrench the staff so that they can keep the staff sufficient enough to be paid by what they collect.
“…I have advised the Chitungwiza mayor and his management to retrench some of the workers but this decision is entirely up to them because they cannot afford that huge labour force.” Mr Nhamo Kwaramba, a human resources consultant, said a team should be assembled to consider retrenchment and other options.
“Whilst retrenchment contains the wage bill, a more robust approach is needed to assess, diagnose and analyse issues affecting council.
“This will enable council to institute well-thought-out and proper corresponding interventions. The process is crucial and works for the good of both council and its employees.”
