EMPLOYEES’ personal vehicles at Chitungwiza Town Council consumed 16 000 litres of fuel worth over $23 000 in just two months at the financially struggling local authority, NewsDay has established.
BY Albert Masaka
This comes amid a finance committee report that Chitungwiza was facing legal suits and garnishee orders of its bank accounts by statutory bodies like the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), among others. Audit manager Jimmy Chiundura noted in the report that some employees were being authorised to draw fuel by their departmental heads, while others were not.
He said further inquiries had showed that council was doing its business through the use of private vehicles, a situation that was difficult for the audit department to monitor.
EMPLOYEES’ personal vehicles at Chitungwiza Town Council consumed 16 000 litres of fuel worth over $23 000 in just two months.
Chiundura advised council to effectively use its own fleet while also considering the option of purchasing more vehicles to beef up its fleet to avoid using private vehicles. Ward 25 councillor Simbiso Mhike had requested to know if the mileage on private vehicles was being taken.
“The audit manager felt that the best option was for council to consider buying vehicles and allocate them to needy departments and it would be able to monitor and control them,” read the report.
Chiundura added that the use of private vehicles posed a risk as these vehicles were not insured by council. Ward 20 councillor Phanuel Katewa then suggested that the best option was for council to purchase second-hand cars for use.
