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Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO residents have blasted the cash-strapped local authority for splashing about $300,000 on luxury vehicles for top management’s while service delivery is suffering.

Speaking during a Local Government, Public Works and National Housing parliamentary portfolio committee meeting at the Civic Centre on Thursday, residents also said the local authority was violating a government directive to allocate 70 percent of their income to service delivery and 30 percent to administration and wages.

The committee which is led by Mutare South MP Cde Irene Zindi is holding hearings on service delivery at a number of local authorities countrywide.

“Council has bought its four top managers top of the range vehicles amounting to $50,000 each. As if that is not enough, the same council has just bought another luxury car for the mayor worth about $70,000 yet the mayor’s Mercedes car is left to rot at the Muzaya Auctioneers following attachment of about 100 vehicles over the $3,5 million 2012 labour saga,” said Godfrey Mutimba, spokesperson of Masvingo Urban Ratepayers and Residents Alliance.

He urged the city fathers not to pass unpopular resolutions that disadvantage residents.

Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT) coordinator Prosper Tiringindi said the decision to buy luxury vehicles by council clearly demonstrates that it was insensitive.

“We are worried by the behaviour of our council management that your committee should investigate this. We wonder how on earth the management can choose luxury ahead of offering effective delivery to residents. Recently we learnt through the media that Zimra garnished $100,000 from their main account for failing to pay tax and yet they have money to spend on luxurious vehicles,” said Tiringindi.

“We are not against them buying cars for managers but the timing is bad given the fact that our economy is not stable plus our service delivery is poor.  We have only one refuse truck. There is also no transparency on council spending.”