Retention Fund Gives Unemployed Youths A Lifeline

BULAWAYO: Approximately thirty youths from ward 27 were recently employed through the Ward Retention Fund. 

By Douglas Ncube

APPROXIMATELY thirty youths from ward 27 were recently employed through the Ward Retention Fund.  They will spend approximately 60 days engaged in general work—including renovating the ward’s drainage system. 

30 youths were hired, out of 60 applicants (Graphic by Douglas Ncube)

This is the first time the ward — which encompasses Pumula and Pelendaba townships — has had access to the fund which was set-up by the city government in 2017. 

The fund assists wards with developmental grants drawn from 3% of what each ward will have paid to the local authority in rates. However, there has been complaints of corruption on how the funds are administered by council authorities, a development which has seen unhappy residents petitioning council authorities demanding to know how the fund is managed. 

Ward 27 Councillor Siboniso Khumalo said he will only know how much his area would be given from the fund when projects supported under the program are finalized.  Although the employment opportunity came as a reprieve to local youths, most of them fear the cash-strapped local authority might delay with the payments.  

“…we might get our money in January next year, Mncedisi Ndebele, one of the youths who was recently hired under the program said. “With inflation skyrocketing it could only be fair enough for the city government to pay us on time.”

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