Speaking to representatives from rural and urban councils in Mutare last week, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister, Jorum Gumbo accused local authorities of diverting funds disbursed by the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) for road rehabilitation and maintenance in order to pay off debts as well as fund salaries and allowances for staff.
Said Gumbo:
We make periodic disbursements of funds and most of you, like Harare, always cry foul that it’s not enough and we do acknowledge that. But what I am now demanding from you is for you to show us how and where you used the little we have been giving you. We gave you money last year, whether its US$100 000 or US$300 000, show us where you used the money. I say to you today give Caesar what belongs to Caesar because you are taking ZINARA money to pay your debts. You further use the same money to pay your salaries and allowances. I am telling you now that it should stop forthwith.
Councils owe millions of dollars to service providers for example, Mutare owes various creditors US$19 million. As of August last year, the capital city Harare owed its own creditors US$200 million, of which US$24 million was in salary arrears.
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