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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
THE cash strapped Masvingo Municipality is spending about $12,000 per month on hiring vehicles and equipment after its entire fleet and machinery was attached by the Deputy Sheriff in 2011.The property was attached so that it could be sold to raise money to pay workers their outstanding salaries amounting to $3,5 million backdated to 2006.

The property is yet to be sold and when asked  about the way forward yesterday, the mayor, Councillor Hubert Fidze yesterday said the situation was hopeless.

“We are still waiting to hear from the court. Before a court verdict we cannot do anything. The Council has contested the position of workers who want to be paid salaries that it cannot afford,” said Clr Fidze in a telephone interview.

He said the delay in resolving the cases was adversely affecting council operations.
“A number of projects are at a standstill because some of the machinery has been attached. The vehicles are still at the Deputy Sheriff premises gathering dust,” he said

Clr Fidze said residents should understand that the new council was  battling to resolve the labour dispute it inherited from the previous council.

“We are concerned about the delays but court processes take time and there is nothing we can do. We have inherited this challenge and we understand residents’ concern. It is pathetic that some of the vehicles will need attention as they have been parked for a long time,” he said.

Ward 10 Clr Lovemore Mufamba bemoaned lack of progress in completing capital projects as a result of the unresolved labour dispute.
“We are incurring a lot of expenses because  of the standoff between council and workers, which has seen the attachment of property by the Deputy Sheriff. We are now spending $12,000 per month hiring vehicles and equipment. The way forward is probably to come up with a payment plan so that the vehicles and machinery could be released,” he said