Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
LOCAL authorities in Manicaland, both urban and rural councils, are struggling to pay their workers, with some employees going for six months without remuneration – a trend having negative impact on service delivery in the province.
Lower-grade workers are bearing the brunt of the situation, while middle and senior management staff are attending non-essential workshops, meetings, and errands to access allowances that are processed promptly.
A check by The Manica Post this week revealed that most local authorities owe their employees salaries ranging from six months to a year.
Chimanimani Rural District Council owes its employees about six months’ salaries – with workers surviving mostly on accommodation and transport allowances.
Nyanga Rural District Council is also in a similar predicament, owing its workers three months’ salaries.
Chipinge Town Council also owes its employees six months’ salaries, while their sister, Chipinge Rural District Council owes its employees’ salaries for the past four months.
The Manica Post also has it on good authority that Rusape Town Council is owing its employees 14 months’ salary arrears, with legal battles pending before the courts relating to delayed salaries.
At least, Mutare City Council is up to date with their salary payments even though workers appear disgruntled over lack of increment for the past four years.
Secretary for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Abiot Maronge admitted that a number of local authorities are failing to pay their workers on time.
“Yes, I am aware that a number of our local authorities have salary arrears due to falling revenue inflows into their coffers. A lot needs to be done to address the situation, and I am confident that our councils will soon come up with a sustainable solution to this challenge.
“I would like to urge residents, including the business community across the province to fully play their part in terms of payment of rates, levies and service charges so that local authorities can operate effectively,” he said.
When contacted for comment, Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU) president, Mr Isau Nyengera said: “It has come to our attention that some local authorities have not paid their workers’ salaries for periods exceeding 12 months in some instances.
“As Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU), we regard that as bad news, and such situations are uncalled for. The situation has created financial hardships to the workers. Remember non-payment of salaries means workers may struggle to pay their bills, rental, and other basic necessities.
“These workers have families to support, and also need money to pay school fees for their children. In such situations, a lot of innocent children are affected because their parents are still to be paid. With the harsh economic environment prevailing, these councils are adding misery to their workers. Most of their workers have resorted to borrowing, leading to debt accumulation and financial stress. At the end this may lead to mental stress.
“We call upon the local authorities to prioritise payment of salaries to workers. It is also critical to engage workers in these trying times and work out payment plans. Our engagement with the workers has shown that they now lack motivation because they don’t know when they will be paid. This lack of motivation and engagement lead to lower productivity and performance.
“As a workers’ representative body, we implore councils to take this matter seriously, and we are available to facilitate dialogue.”
Zimbabwe Rural District Councils Workers Union national organising secretary, Mr Mwaka Nyuro Sithole blamed the failure for local authorities to pay workers on the 2023/24 El Nino-induced drought.
“Yes, it is true that we have some local authorities that have not been paying salaries to employees, with some going for a year. This is sad and regrettable.
“However, we also understand that in most cases, this has more to do with the effects of climate change and the El Nino-induced drought that the country is reeling from. Our membership is mainly RDCs, whose income come from farmers under their jurisdictions. If the farmers fail to produce, then where can they get money to pay their levies to councils?
“We, however, urge concerned parties to meet halfway – that is farmers and everyone involved should find a way to pay their levies so that councils can pay their workers and ultimately improve service delivery.”
Mutasa Rural District Council chief executive, Mr George Bandure said: “Revenue inflows have been highly depressed due to the volatile economic operational environment. Debtors with arrears have not honoured by paying their dues to the local authority.
“This has had a net effect of council failing to meet on its monthly salary obligations. Council resolved that those owing the local authority should be handed over to the Messenger of Court for collection. It is a slow and painstaking process.”
Rusape Town Council human capital and administration officer, Mr Togarepi Nerwande said: “These arrears are a result of legacy creditors such as NSSA, ZIMRA, LAPF and human resources issues. For example, we have two employees who won an arbitrary award amounting to about US$56 000. All in all, we paid $720 292 in 2024 alone towards these legacy creditors.
“If we were to channel this towards salaries that would have paid nine months’ salaries. However, this January alone we reduced our salary arears from six months to four months.
“We have also resolved to have 180 employees. Currently we stand at 200 employees. At the beginning of last year, we had 216 employees. We are only replacing key vacant posts in the event of death, dismissal or resignation and abolishing some posts that we feel are no longer are relevant like typists.
“We are also encouraging employees to do setoffs with council because the same employees we owe also owe council in terms of rates or stand sales. We are also mechanising with the aim of reducing the need for human resources.” Chimanimani Rural District Council chief executive, Mr Nehemiah Deure, said: “Because of the El Nino-induced drought, we have challenges in paying salaries. Most of our ratepayers here depend on agricultural products sale for a livelihood.
“Naturally, council rates payment is not a priority for individuals. For the employees, we make sure they get an amount at the end of every month, which would not be the full salary, especially for upper grades. This is where the arrears accrue, especially for middle and top management.”
Chipinge Town chairman, Councillor Kingstone Dhlumo, said: “We are only left with one-month salary arrears. We had arrears yes, but we managed to pay off starting from last December.”
Nyanga Rural District Council chief executive, Dr Zefania Jaravaza said he could not respond as he was busy. “I am in a meeting and very busy. You may send your questions on my email, and I will respond when I am no longer busy,” said Dr Jaravaza.
“Here in Buhera, we have seen what Pfumvudza can do. There are 18 plots here, and the farmer is delivering seven tonnes of maize per plot to GMB, which shows that even in rural areas farming can be a business if Pfumvudza principles are followed. We are happy that Manicaland has surpassed its target for maize which was 265 000 hectares, achieving 273 000 hectares of maize while other farmers have planted traditional grains. If this wet spell continues as predicted, we will surely be on our way of attaining national food security this season,” he said.
Mrs Nyagwaira is optimistic of a successful agriculture season having gone out of her way to irrigate her crop using drums so that it survives the dry spell.
“This is my fifth year since embracing Pfumvudza, and this year, I prepared 18 plots, six more than the 12 I had last year. Last year, I recorded seven tonnes per plot. This year there was less rainfall and I would fetch water using drums to irrigate my crops,” she said.
