CHITUNGWIZA Town Council workers yesterday blocked Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo’s resuscitation team from entering the town’s offices, accusing the minister of fleecing the local authority’s coffers for the benefit of his “blue-eyed boys”. Report by Moses Matenga Staff Reporter
Angry council workers said they decided to blockade the town offices after receiving a tip-off that Chombo’s team was coming to probe the controversial Nyatsime housing project.
Workers’ committee chairperson Nyikadzino Matsikidze said: “We gave notice of a strike for 14 days. We gave the notice on Monday, but the reason why we came here before the days given is that the resuscitation team was meant to come back here to investigate the Nyatsime stands issue. The team is expected to get $15 000 each a day,” said Matsikidze.
“They say they want to investigate the issue of Nyatsime and other related cases. The city needs only to have the director of housing to deal with the Nyatsime issue.
“This is a land dispute that can be solved by the Ministry of Local Government and the Lands ministry. We are forking out a lot of money because of these teams.
“Why do we need them here? The workers are three months in salary arrears yet Chombo continues to give money to his teams. The resuscitation team, after all, has destroyed council, their systems destroyed council,” he said.
