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This development, although it will not interfere with the co-hosting of the general assembly, which will start from 24 to 29 August has, however, dampened the general assembly mood for the locals.

Speaking on condition of anonymity yesterday, the employees, who are mostly builders working on the construction of a new precast wall, the expansion of the administration block and a construction of a new wing among other jobs at the institution, said their paymaster, the Ministry of Public Works  had not paid them for the past four months.

The hospital received $6,9 million from the Government last year for the expansion programme that was aimed at turning the institution into a state- of-the-art medical facility in the resort town.

Last year, there were also reports of mismanagement of funds at the hospital and an audit team that looked into the financial status of the project is still to make their findings public.

“We have gone for more than four months without salaries. However, we are still on the ground working on our tasks hoping that one day we will receive our salaries,” said one of the employees.

Another employee said they tried to dialogue with the local organising committee chairperson, Alderman Nkosilathi Jiyane to discuss the matter with the hope of finding a lasting solution.

Contacted for comment, Ald Jiyane confirmed hearing that the workers had not been paid for the past four months.

“Yes I heard that they had not been paid for the past four months, but I have not had time to sit down with them. I only heard that they spoke to the deputy Mayor, but I am not privy to the meeting,” he said.

Ald Jiyane said the employees were employed by the Ministry of Public Works.

“The relevant ministry to talk to is the Ministry of Public Works,” he said.

Efforts to get an official comment from Minister Gabuza Joel Gabuza were fruitless, as his mobile phone was not reachable.

There are only less than six months to go before Zimbabwe and Zambia co-host the tourism indaba and different projects earmarked for use before and after the general assembly are still to be completed.