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Nyemudzai Kakore Harare Bureau
Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe (ARDCZ) president Guy Mutasa has come under fire for unprocedurally awarding a hefty retirement package of more than $300, 000, among other perks to the organisation’s chief executive officer, Rodgers Mozhentiy.

Mozhentiy turned 65 in November 2014, but he was engaged on a two-year contract allegedly renewed by Mutasa, with sources saying he was pocketing a monthly salary of $9, 000 including benefits.

His contract expires at the end of the year.

There are 60 rural district councils in the country’s eight administrative rural provinces.

Documents in our Harare Bureau’s possession show that Mozhentiy demanded a package that includes a five percent stake in Local Government House, which amounts to $80, 000, two top of the range vehicles that include the offer of the one he is using at book value and the awarding of another vehicle he was due to get in 2011.

The Local Government House in Harare, believed to be valued at $1.6 million, is being leased to tenants for the association to generate revenue.

Other benefits the CEO is demanding include a commercial stand in Chivhu and a residential stand in Nyanga as well as taking all the furniture in his office.

Mozhentiy is also demanding a gratuity amounting to more than $180, 000 and wants payment to be negotiated from the date of his permanent employment in 2005.

He is also demanding more than $28, 000 from the leave days he accrued, with him remaining on the payroll until the full amount is paid.

Sources in the association said Mozhentiy’s package was not realistic considering that the councils were failing to provide service including building toilets, drilling boreholes and maintenance of rural gravel roads.

Some roads have not been rehabilitated since the country was slapped with illegal sanctions over a decade ago, making them virtually impassable.

“We didn’t agree that he be given that hefty package. This is taxpayer’s money they’re abusing. Councils are failing to provide service to the rural communities,” said a source. “We’ll not allow this rot to continue. A new chief executive officer has to be appointed. Salaries for some councils’ CEOs are $1, 900 with chairpersons earning $170 each,” the source argued.

The sources accused Mutasa and Mozhentiy of wanting to silence chairpersons from voicing their concerns by claiming that President Robert Mugabe would be the guest of honour when they hold fresh elections in July.

Contacted for comment on why he had acceded to such a hefty package, Mutasa said the figure was calculated and agreed on based on the conditions of his employment contract.

Mutasa said the grievances from the affected stakeholders were a way of “demonising” him as he had inherited the conditions of service from the previous national executive.

“This was done in 2014 with the full executive agreeing. There’s no way l could’ve signed without everyone involved,” he said.

“This isn’t something that was done single handedly. We consulted professional lawyers to help with the issue and we agreed that we still needed his services.”

Mozhentiy defended his package, saying it was done above board and felt he was being prejudiced considering his immense contribution to ARDCZ.

“It is my submission that it was unfair on my part to have been employed on rolling contracts for a period of 12 years.

“I say so because the fact that my contracts kept being renewed meant that the work was there and why should this period not be considered,” reads his memo to the association.

Mozhentiy joined ARDCZ in 1993 and was employed on rolling fixed term contracts with him becoming the substantive CEO in 2005.