Government through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, has turned down council workers’ request for food aid saying that a feeding scheme was not implementable. The workers had written the request through the Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Workers Union.
Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Engineer George Mlilo, said that his ministry will continue monitoring operations of local authorities with a view to rationalise salaries of senior management so as to release money into operations. In a response Mlilo wrote:
Nonetheless, the ministry is committed to improving the welfare of council employees and their families. To that end, the ministry is closely monitoring the operations of local authorities on the need to ensure that they rationalise salaries for senior management at the same time reviewing salaries for lower level staff so that they are above poverty the datum line. In addition, urban local authorities are being implored to prioritise payment of employees. It is envisaged that this arrangement will safeguard both the employees and their families as opposed to a feeding scheme that may end up cushioning the workers at the detriment of their families.
Council workers were said to be planning a strike after going five months without salaries.
More: Herald