BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) directors are pushing for hefty packages that include holiday packages and discounts on residential and commercial stands.
Despite councillors previously rejecting the proposal for additional packages for the executive group, council senior management recently embarked on a number of “look and learn” visits to some councils where they explored the packages being offered to the top management.
Last year, BCC resolved to increase perks for its senior staffers which saw them get free accommodation, water, electricity and telephone services. However, councillors dismissed proposals that were going to see the council’s “executive group” getting holiday packages.
According to a council confidential report, top management together with the general purposes committee visited Harare, Gweru and Mutare councils where they explored the conditions of service for top management at these local authorities. In Harare, it emerged that top management has what is termed wellness holiday allowance every year, to a destination of one’s choice regionally.
“Conditions of services for the executive group in Harare include a housing allowance (25 percent of basic salary), non-practising allowance (45 percent of basic salary), education allowance, public relations allowance (20 percent of basic), responsibility allowance, performance based bonus, locomotion allowance, cellphone allowance, club membership fees, wellness holiday allowance, land for residential, commercial and industrial stand at 50 percent discount and fuel allocation.
The city of Harare allows its staff members involved in various sporting activities to take a half day every Wednesday to participate in sporting activities of their choice. Also, as part of the staff wellness, sports festivals involving different sporting activities were arranged with other local authorities,” reads the report.
In Gweru, the top management get accommodation, education allowance, land and the Town Clerk gets building materials assistance and studies allowance to pursue studies in line with their duty.
“As for Mutare the senior employees get accommodation, school fees paid (at a higher level than BCC), holiday allowance that is international, regional and local according to grades, land at 60 percent discount, motoring allowance and fuel allocation.
The BCC delegation was also very impressed by the effective revenue collection strategies implemented by Mutare as explained by the acting finance director, the digitalised housing list and records and the design and arrangements of articles in the Mutare City Council newsletter,” reads the report.
According to the report, the delegation also noted that in all three local authorities collective bargaining for the executive group was done separate from other staff members.
Last year, the local authority resolved on making provisions to construct pool houses in the eastern suburbs that will be used by top officials, in what they said was meant to help retain critical skills.
The strategy was part of a new policy for allocation of residential stands and social houses to individual beneficiaries.
To further add on to the perks of council employees, full time employees can now purchase residential stands anywhere in the city for a 40 percent discount, with the payment being payable for a period of five years. – Sunday News
