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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
GWERU city councillors have approved the purchase of vehicles for three directors at a cost of $300 000 in a bid to charm council management to regularise the city fathers’ stands before the end of their term of office.

According to the latest special  council minutes dated March 12, councillors resolved that vehicles for the director of Housing and Community Services, director of Health Services and the Chamber  Secretary be purchased at no more than  $100 000 each.

“It was recommended that the vehicles for the director of Housing and Community Services, Director of Health Services and Chamber Secretary be purchased to a value not more than $100 000 each.

“Debating on the issue, His Worship the Mayor Councillor C. Chikozho proposed that the vehicles for the three directors be purchased in batches,” reads part of the minutes.

Clr Chikozho said council’s financial position was not sound.

While councillors were in agreement that the purchase of the three vehicles would compromise service delivery, they went ahead and endorsed the resolution. “Other members concurred with the mayor’s suggestion pointing out that purchasing the vehicles at once would compromise service delivery,” reads part of the minutes.

After recommending the purchase of the three vehicles, councillors raised serious concern over management’s reluctance to swiftly regularise the issue of their stands. The 17 councillors are demanding stands which are about 1 200 sq metres each before they leave office.

“Members raised serious concern over management’s reluctance to swiftly regularise councillors’ stands which were not ready for development.

Members argued that management knew that some stands chosen by councillors needed proper layout plans for approval and surveying but no action was taken in time given that councillors term of office was coming to an end,” reads the minutes.

The meeting then resolved that councillors be allocated residential stands in their preferred areas.