Govt reviews councilors’ allowances

By Sam Mupedziswa
   

Local Government and Public Works Minister, Honourable (Hon.) D. Garwe, has approved an increase in councillors’ monthly allowances, which comes into effect immediately. As a result, circular 12 dated 18 March 2020, has been repealed and replaced.

In a circular dated 26 September 2024, signed by Hon D. Garwe will see Council Mayors and Chairpersons getting $90 per month, Council Deputy mayors and vice Chairpersons will get $82,50 per month, Chairpersons of Committee will get $78 and Councillors will be getting $75 per month. 

The allowances will be pegged in United States Dollars (USD) and no other allowances are payable, including sitting allowances. In addition to a monthly allowance, councillors are entitled to travel and subsistence allowances for travel outside of council area only. Only rural Councillors attending Council meetings will get these allowances because of the distance involved. 

The rates are to be calculated in the equivalent of one and half liters of fuel for every 10km traveled away from the ward. Councilors who are give council transport will be exempted from this allowance. 

The Hon Minister has granted permission to a councilor who does not have a residence within his/her ward to be allocated a single residential stand in their life time, within that ward on which to construct a home for him/herself. The stand may be sold to a councilor at a discount of 40% of the normal land value. 

The circular states that the stand is to be offered to a councilor on a lease with option to purchase with payments being made in equal monthly installments and completed before the end of the term of office of the councilor.

The councilor may not sell the stand or the lease during his/her term of office. The circular further states that the offer of the stand for councilors is a privilege and not an entitlement and is made with the desire to enable a councilor to live in a dignified manner. The stand acquired in terms of this circular is not for profit or aggrandizement. 

The Minister has also permitted Councillors, who want to benefit to be granted free parking and free grave during their tenure of office. He added that he has approved that they will be no exit package to be paid to any councilor on the completion of his/her term of office