Harare, Zimbabwe | A senior Harare City Council executive and military man Matthew Marara on Tuesday opened up to the commission of inquiry into the municipality’s affairs that he got hefty allowances that ran into thousands of dollars including a laptop allowance of US$3700 and cellphone allowance of US$2550.
Without mincing his words, Marara who is an executive assistant to the Town Clerk told a commission of inquiry into the running of Harare City chaired by retired Justice Maphios Cheda that he got allowances that other top executives got even when service delivery was poor in the capital including garbage collection which interestingly resonates with his surname.
“There are other employees who got the same compensation,” Marara told the commission justifying his kitty.
“I had to agree because I wanted my dues. I was happy with them (allowances).”
Marara said he got compensation of US$131 353 for the time he was suspended from work for 30 months.
Marara said he got back pay of US$61 200, Holiday Allowance US$18 000, Car Allowance US$14 399, Fuel US$12 870, Medical Aid US$1229, Funeral Cover US $768, Outstanding bonus US $2459, Laptop Allowance US$3 700, Cellphone US$2 550, Ipad US$1 920, Newspapers US$ 3256 among other ridiculous allowances.
Marara who reportedly resigned from council in 2020 before making a dramatic comeback to council in very unclear and unexplained circumstances is one of the top executives from the Town House that have appeared before the commission of inquiry.
Marara, a former army Major joined the City Council as a Training and Development Manager before rising to his current post of executive assistant to the Town Clerk. The post is equivalent to director level at Town House.
Evidence leader, Thabani Mpofu at the commission of inquiry has argued that the committee that awarded Marara the US$131 323 was unlawful.
But Marara said he benefitted because other council employees who were suspended were also paid salaries due to them as well as the hefty allowances.
Marara said the situation at Harare City Council is “chaotic”.
The commission of inquiry is rounding up interviews to prepare a report to President Emmerson Mnangagwa together with their recommendations in February.
Harare City Council is facing a myriad of problems that include corruption, poor service delivery with residents going for weeks without water while sewer bursts are regular in many areas in the capital.
Harare City Executive Assistant, Rtd Major Mathew Marara, received compensation on newspapers allowance amounting to USD 3,156.00 with the rate for Grade 2 employees.
The allowance was from December 2020 up to May 2023, which period covers 30 months.
In this period, Marara was arrested for issues of abuse of office.
For comments, Feedback and Opinions do get in touch with our editor on WhatsApp: +44 7949 297606.