No Salaries, No Trips: Govt Warns Councils

The Government has directed local authorities to suspend non-essential travel and retreats until they address outstanding salary arrears, settle statutory obligations and improve service delivery.

Local Government and Public Works permanent secretary Tafadzwa Muguti said councils must prioritise paying workers and meeting their financial commitments before allocating funds to activities that are not essential.

The directive comes as financially strained councils face growing debts, unpaid salaries and challenges in providing basic services to residents.

Under the new measures, local authorities are required to submit detailed reports showing outstanding salary arrears, unpaid obligations and plans to improve their financial position.

“Councils failing to meet their financial responsibilities would not have their requests for foreign travel approved,” said Muguti.

He also stressed that proposed expenditure must be necessary, properly justified and backed by available resources.

The Government’s position is that local authorities should direct their limited funds towards settling debts, paying employees and improving municipal services rather than spending on trips and retreats.

The move is aimed at promoting financial discipline among councils and ensuring that public funds are channelled towards addressing pressing service delivery challenges.