Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. CHINHOYI council could be losing thousands of dollars after it emerged that some councillors are getting soft loans in the form subsistence allowances for trips paid in advance.
NewsDay heard that councillors are reportedly failing to pay back money advanced as subsistence allowance for sanctioned and unsanctioned trips.
According to latest finance committee minutes, ward 4 councillor Ignatius Zvigadza (Zanu PF) is reported to have received US$1 000 in November 2024 for a trip to Saudi Arabia for an International Conference on Learning Cities, but never travelled.
Up to now, he has not repaid the amount.
“Yes, I was given the money amounting to US$1 000 but I failed to travel,” said Zvigadza.
“I, however, wrote a letter to the town clerk copied to the finance director requesting that council deducts money from my monthly allowances, but I’m surprised that the money has not been deducted up to now.”
Finance director Zephaniah Chirarwe said it would take 13 months to recover the amount from Zvigadza’s monthly allowances.
This is against the accounting procedure manual, which stipulates that such money should be reimbursed within 30 days.
According to the minutes, ward 8 councillor and audit committee chairperson, David Malunga, also got US$333,37 and ZiG$9 154,04 to attend an audit workshop in Gweru.
He, however, failed to travel and never paid back the money.
Malunga insisted that he repaid in full.
Acting chamber secretary Hilda Kabangure said policy requirements should have been adhered to.
Combined Chinhoyi Residents Trust chairperson Tendayi Musonza expressed concern over the misuse of the allowance facility.
“We need answers on why it took council this long to deliberate on the issue. Why were they silent. Is it because the audit chairperson is involved?” Musonza asked.
“It will be difficult for residents to have confidence in an audit system whose chairperson is fingered in a scandal.”
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