Tonderai Saharo
Masvingo —The Masvingo City Council has approved a US$17,000 expense for cellphones for its 13 councillors in the 2025 budget, but residents are fuming, calling it extravagant.
Council argues that these new phones will improve communication between councilors, residents, ratepayers and management, and enhance better governance.
It has proposed to buy Samsung S24 Ultra phones for the city fathers at US$1,300 each, bringing the total to US$16,900.
The council’ budget totalling US$35,2 million, prioritises water, sanitation, and hygiene projects, allocating 55% of the budget to these areas.
While the cellphone budget is considered modest relative to the total allocation, stakeholders insist the resolution misaligns with the city’s pressing needs.
The resolution was swiftly passed during a recent full council meeting, with officials arguing that there was need for improved communication.
Masvingo City Council town clerk, Edward Mukaratirwa, presented a report that justified new cellphones.
A 26 September 2024 circular from the Local Government and Public Works ministry stipulates that any purchase of cellphones for councillors must receive ministerial approval, including justification of the expense, budget allocations, type of phone, and associated conditions.
Councilors are the ones who proposed the Samsung S24 Ultra purchases.
It was not immediately clear when the councillors were last bought cellphones by the municipality.
Residents are complaining that the price of the cellphone is inflated, claiming that the Samsung S24 Ultra can be bought for US$1,170, which is US$130 cheaper than the total budgeted amount of US$1,300 per phone.
The planned cellular phone purchase has reignited emotional debate among residents on the perennial failure of the local authority to provide adequate services to ratepayers.
Typical of municipalities across the country, Masvingo city has for many years grappled with uncollected refuse, serious sewer breakdowns, poor water supply and deteriorating drainage, among other acute challenges.
Maria Moyo, a resident, said the current council resolution regarding the cellphones showed that council’s priorities were skewed.
“These (cellphones) are a luxury and the timing is bad. The type and cost of the phones raise questions about management and oversight at the council. There are cheaper phones that can do the same job well. In any case, these councillors hardly communicate with residents,” she said.
Another resident who refused to be identified said the US$17,000 must have been used to drill boreholes to improve water supply or buy pipes to upgrade drainage.
Masvingo Service Delivery Residents and Ratepayers Association (MASDRRA) Secretary General Moses Mavhusa, emphasized that the association expects City Councilors to strike a balance between their demands and effective service delivery.
“As MASDRRA we are not there to go against city council policies as regards to councilors conditions of service.
“We assume the budget allocated to cellphone handouts is a condition of service contract though as residents we were not informed through projected council budget during consultations,” he said.
Mavhubsa added: “As residents we hope such spending will not compromise service delivery, of late we have been witnessing delays in refuse collection, tap water rationing, unattended sewer blockages.”
“We expect Masvingo City council to balance on their luxury expenditures against standard service delivery expectations,” he said
Masvingo mayor, Alec Tabe, defended the council decision, arguing that the Local Government ministry had approved phone purchases for councillors.
“We are just following what is in the ministerial circular, and funds to procure the phones are yet to be released from the finance department,” said Tabe.
He insisted that the councillors would repay the money used to buy the phones.
“Residents should know that we are not receiving these gadgets for free. The money comes in the form of loans, which each councilor will service over the period of their term in office,” Tabe said.
Former Masvingo City Ward 4 councillor, Godfrey Kurauone, saw nothing amiss in councillors buying the gadgets.
“So, you don’t want a councillor to get anything from council when a manager gets a brand new Toyota Hilux D4D? A councillor gets a phone and you cry foul!” he said.