…unlimited fuel for his top-of-the-range car

…huge entertainment allowances

…elite club and gym subscriptions

Upenyu Chaota

Under-fire Masvingo Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa grossed employment benefits running into hundreds of thousands of dollars during his stint on the job, but these did not stop him from allegedly prejudicing the very employer which pampered him.

Mukaratirwa (pictured) has been charged by the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) for corruption linked to the purchase of his top-of-the-range Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX-L from local dealer Byword Motors.

He also faces a separate charge of fraudulently convincing the council to dispose to him a Toyota Hilux D4D double cab he had hitherto driven as deputy city engineer, and prior to the irregular purchase of the Toyota Prado VX-L.

Mukaratirwa is currently on forced leave, and is due to appear in court on 09 August, 2024.

For the sake of public accountability, and in the name of advancing the public interest, EnviroPress hereby publishes a full schedule of Mukaratirwa’s humongous employment benefits, which, however, seem to have failed to tame his appetite for more.

Residents and ratepayers who spoke to EnviroPress said when viewed in the context of a poorly-run city which lacks basic amenities of service delivery, the benefits betray depravity and selfishness at the expense of public servitude which city fathers claim to champion.

At the moment, Masvingo suffers poor service delivery; with many street corners in town not having something as basic as rubbish bins. The few public toilets available are hardly usable as they are never properly cleaned with disinfectants, and many sanitary lanes behind buildings are laced with human faeces.

The benefits were accented to by a special council which sat on 23 July, 2021, to deliberate the town clerk’s conditions of service.

1. Basic salary of ZWL145 677.77 (which translated to US$1702 using the prevailing interbank rate of US$1 = ZWL85.5099 at July 16, 2021, when council sat to confirm the Local Government Board’s appointment of Mukaratirwa as substantive town clerk.
2. Condition of service vehicle for business and private use serviced and maintained by council with unlimited provision of fuel. The vehicle to be sold to Mukaratirwa after four years at 20 percent of the netbook value.
3. New condition of service vehicle after every four years.
4. A commercial stand.
5. A residential stand.
6. A cellphone of his choice.
7. A laptop of his choice.
8. Housing allowance at 50 percent of basic salary, translating to US$801.
9. Representation allowance at 80 percent of basic salary, translating to US$1361.
10. Professional allowance at 40 percent of basic salary, translating to US$680.
11. Retention allowance at 50 percent of basic salary, translating to US$801.
12. 100 percent medical aid cover for Mukaratirwa, his wife, and all his biological children below the age of 24, translating to an unknown amount.
13. Entertainment allowance at maximum of 40 percent of basic salary, translating to a maximum of US$40.
14. Subscription to professional bodies, with council paying full subscription to at most two professional bodies of Mukaratirwa’s choice, translating to an unknown amount.
15. Club and gym subscriptions, with council paying full subscription to a club and of Mukaratirwa’s choice, translating to an unknown amount.
16. Ex-gratia bonus at 150 percent of basic salary, translating to US$2503.

Benefits upon retirement or resignation

1. Gratuity of two months’ salary for every year served.
2. The vehicle being used at the time of retirement or resignation will be given at no cost.
3. Laptop being used to be given at no cost.
4. Cellphone being used to be given to him at no cost.
5. The chair being used to be given to him at no cost.
6. One commercial stand.
7. One residential stand.
8. Exemption of payment of service charges at his home.
9. 100 percent medical aid cover for him and his spouse.
10. Full funeral cover for him, his family and all biological children, plus US$700 bereavement token for them all.

Click here to read how Mukaratirwa controversially rose, against provisions of the Urban Councils Act, to become Acting Town Clerk upon the retirement of the now late Adolf Gusha in 2018.

Click here to get a fuller appreciation of the corruption charges that Mukaratirwa face.