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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Commission running the affairs of the Gweru City Council has fired 50 contract workers as part of measures to cut the wage bill.

The most affected are contract workers employed last year from the wards on recommendations of the suspended councillors. The other employees dismissed used to work for the defunct GO Beer Breweries.

The workers started receiving the termination of employment letters yesterday.

Part of the termination letter dated August 31, which is in the possession of The Chronicle reads, “Notice is hereby given that your fixed contract of employment is expiring on 31 August, 2015 and it shall not be renewed. By copy of this memo the Finance department is requested to prepare your terminal benefits.”

Council wage bill is said to be hovering around $900,000 a month for its 1,300 workers against $1million revenue.

The three-member commission, recently appointed by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Saviour Kasukuwere is led by former Masvingo Town Clerk Tsunga Mhangami.

The commission was appointed following the suspension of the 16 councillors including the Mayor Hamutendi Kombayi and his deputy Artwell Manyorauta on allegations of gross misconduct, incompetence and mismanagement of council funds.

Efforts to get a comment from Mhangami on the dismissal of workers were fruitless as he was said to be in marathon meetings together with the Town Clerk Daniel Matawu.