https://www.facebook.com/share/p/12MDMB7WiVb/ 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘇𝗶 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹’𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗲𝘀 By Beatific Gumbwanda Chiredzi Town Council councillors have expressed outrage over funding a trip to South Korea amidst the local authority's financial struggles. The council was nominated to participate in the International Youth World Camp in Busan, South Korea, but councillors rejected the invitation, citing the council's dire financial situation. The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works will lead the delegation, and the local authority will be expected to cover travel costs for its delegation. However, ward 4 Zanu PF councilor Charles Njopera argued that funding the trip would demotivate employees whom the local authority owe over three months’ salary arrears. “We cannot be funding trips to South Korea. Let’s inform the Ministry that the local authority has no funds for such endeavours. Our workers have three months of unpaid salaries, our trucks have no fuel, and this decision will not motivate our employees,” said Njopera. Ward 7 councilor Brighton Mahiya, also from Zanu PF echoed Njopera's sentiments, emphasizing that while the invitation could be seen as an opportunity, the local authority simply cannot finance the trip. “The Ministry nominated us for participation in the camp, but we need to assess if we have the resources to do so, and as it stands, we are not in a position to cover those costs,” said Mahiya. Ward 8 councilor Gift Chigidi from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) expressed his agreement with Njopera, supporting the position against funding the trip. However, Councilor Sekai Njanjure from Zanu PF argued that they had no say over the invitation as it came as a directive not a request. She said there was need for clarification of how the junior councilors were going to be funded for the trip. “We need to clarify how junior councillors receive their allowances, but it seems they will go regardless of our resolution since they receive their allowances according to established government international rates,” she said. However, Ward 2 councillor Danford Chikanyau, who was standing in for the council chair, Jameson Charumbira, since he and his deputy Liberty Macharaga all from Zanu PF, were absent concluded the debate by instructing acting Town Secretary Lloyd Musasa, to communicate the authority's current financial situation to the Ministry. “The Town Secretary should convey our financial challenges to the Ministry, and if necessary, we will hold a special council meeting to discuss this issue further,” Chikanyau stated.