KWEKWE residents demanding improved service delivery have opposed the purchase of a $60 000 mayoral vehicle in the proposed 2018 budget.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
Council has presented a proposed capital budget of close to $8 million, which will see Kwekwe commit $3,2 million for the rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructure, $1,8 million for the installation of prepaid meters and $2 million for servicing stands in Mbizo and Amaveni.
Kwekwe also proposes to buy two ambulances, two refuse removal trucks for $400 000 and a mayoral double cab vehicle for $60 000 next year.
Residents are, however, unhappy with council spending money on the mayoral vehicle, saying it’s a luxury they can ill-afford. Tinashe Mutero of Fitchlea, said instead council should use the money to buy a service delivery vehicle.
“Council workers take time to attend to burst sewer pipes, while the building inspectorate has no vehicles, but this town wants to buy a car for a non executive mayor, who comes to office once in a while,” Mutero said at a budget consultative meeting.
Kwekwe was supposed to have bought a mayoral car in 2013, but mayor Matenda Madzoke blocked the local authority from getting him a one, saying he would ride on a bicycle to work than take delivery of a brand new vehicle, when service delivery was in shambles.
Madzoke resolved to use pool cars when attending to official council business, but the car has since gone out of service.
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