Harare City Council splurges on workshops

05 May, 2019 - 00:05 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Senior Reporter

The Harare City Council is spending several thousands of dollars monthly on “training workshops” for councillors and senior management with the city having already conducted 30 such ‘talk shops’ since coming into office last year, a residents’ watchdog has alleged.

The Harare Resident Trust (HRT) alleges that the MDC-led city council is using ratepayers money on workshops in exclusive hotels outside Harare, instead of using council facilities in the city.

It is alleged that Harare City Council is spending an average $200 for hotel accommodation and meals a day on each of its officials during the workshops.

Some of the meetings have been held in Victoria Falls, Leopard Rock Hotel, Vumba, Nyanga, and Kadoma Hotel.

HRT director Mr Precious Shumba charged that city fathers are underutilising council facilities at Town House and elsewhere across the city.

“The City of Harare has held an estimated 30 works in Victoria Falls, Leopard Rock Hotel, Vumba, Nyanga, and Kadoma Hotel,” said Mr Shumba.

“The city of Harare is on a rampant spree to abuse ratepayers’ money.

“This year alone the newly elected councillors have held 11 workshops at Kadoma Hotel with an average attendance of ninety participants.

“The City of Harare is spending an average $200 in hotel accommodation and meals per day.”

Mr Shumba further alleged that at least 12 councillors in the Audit Committee, led by Deputy Mayor Enoch Mupamaonde were at Kadoma Hotel for a workshop between 11 and 14 April 2019.

He said another workshop, at the same hotel attended by 55 officials including senior management, heads of department, and the town clerk ended on April 15, 2019.

Harare Mayor Councillor Hebert Gomba said its normal practice for councillors to receive training when councils are constituted.

“We have new councillors who have come in and we have set up new committees of council and these people would want to be capacitated,” said Cllr Gomba.

“We have about 16 old councillors and over 30 new ones, so there is nothing wrong in taking them through the steps for them to be able to understand and make the correct decision in terms of what they are supposed to do here.”

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