Harare City council has found itself with almost empty pockets and is on the brink of failing to pay its worker's salaries.
The finance strapped municipality has now offered a plan to sell its asserts so as to raise $20 Million that will fund the wage bill.
Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni had initially refused to authorize the sale saying the disposal was a rushed transaction for its magnitude, and that the city could not sell its capital assets to fund operational costs.
“We are disposing of capital assets to fund operational costs and for how long can such a model be sustained when our revenues are declining?” said Clr Manyenyeni.
However, sources at Town House reveal that Deputy Mayor Chris Mbanga ended up authorizing the disposal of three city properties, commercial and industrial stands through public tender.
“Mayor Manyenyeni left the documents on his table without giving reasons as to why he had not signed and went for a workshop in Kariba. Councillors treated the matter with urgency and there was a copy, which was signed by the Finance Committee chairperson Tranos Moyo, which was then given to Clr Mbanga,” said the source.
The city is selling three properties along Luck Street and several open spaces for residential development in Mt Pleasant along Harare Drive, Marlborough, Greendale, Helensvale, Prospect and Quinnington suburbs.
- Herald
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