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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
BULAWAYO Mayor Martin Moyo has castigated councillors who are allegedly demanding money from residents and promising to secure jobs for them when construction of the Egodini Mall begins.

During council’s quarterly media briefing yesterday, it emerged that some councillors were demanding up to $50 per head from job seekers.

Some councillors are said to be telling residents that only MDC-T card carrying members will be employed by Terracotta at the commencement of construction of Egodini Mall.

The $60 million project is expected to commence next month and will create over 1,000 jobs for Bulawayo residents.

Yesterday, Clr Moyo said the Bulawayo City Council and councillors have no business recruiting workers for the South Africa-based company.

He said councillors who are demanding money from desperate job seekers were committing fraud and should be prosecuted.

“Employing workers for Egodini Mall is the business of the contractor. I’m surprised that there are councillors who are said to be involved in a recruitment process. They don’t even know the numbers of people the contractor is recruiting,” he said.

Clr Moyo said residents should report the fraudsters to the police.

He challenged the media to name and shame councillors who lack self respect and integrity by taking advantage of desperate job seekers.

Clr Moyo said employment should not be a partisan issue and it was against MDC-T principles to segregate residents based on political affiliation.

“We campaigned on a party card but as councillors we’re supposed to attend to all people or problems. I for one attend to all the residents from Ward 3 regardless of their political affiliation. This party thing shouldn’t be considered,” said Clr Moyo.

He said he would be meeting councillors later to discuss the issue.

He said vulnerable members of society should be given first preference where there are job opportunities.

At the end of February, Terracotta officials said soon after processing the Environmental Impact Assessment, their team will commence their work.