News / Local
Council employees up for embezzling funds
06 Mar 2016 at 11:08hrs | Views
BUHERA Rural District Council employees allegedly destroyed several receipt books after embezzling thousands of dollars.
Although the actual figures which the local authority lost to the employees were still to ascertained, so far it is estimated that the figure is not less than $13 000.
Manica Post reported that the matter came to the head recently and this prompted the deployment of auditors by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development – which exposed "dangerous loopholes" that created opportunity for embezzlement.
Two officials, Messrs Ruzani and Nyaunde have since been fired in connection with the scandal, while their supervisor and council treasurer, Mr Wakina Cholomoni is on suspension with full benefits.
Murambinda RDC chairperson, Councillor Ngonidzashe Musakaruka, told The Manica Post that Mr Cholomoni was hauled before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday to answer charges of failing to superintend over the council purse.
He said council also dismissed an appeal by Ruzani, while that of Nyaundi was set to be heard today (Friday).
"It is true that we have fired the two employees and suspended their superior on allegations of financial prejudice. They failed to account for council funds, yet it was their core responsibilities to do so. The council is short of funds, but our records show that it was generating enough to finance its operations and the question that we asked them, and failed to answer, was where was all that money going," said Clr Musakaruka.
Clr Musakaruka explained charges against Mr Nyaundi as emanating from an incident in which he received $500 which was meant to cater for councillors' allowances, but did not receipt the money.
The audit discovered, among other things that Buhera RDC was not reconciling its books at the end of the day, that council was using funds before banking – loopholes which were exploited to defraud it.
Manicaland Provincial Administrator, Mr Fungai Mbetsa, said the council must come up with a water tight financial management system to avoid future scandals.
Although the actual figures which the local authority lost to the employees were still to ascertained, so far it is estimated that the figure is not less than $13 000.
Manica Post reported that the matter came to the head recently and this prompted the deployment of auditors by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development – which exposed "dangerous loopholes" that created opportunity for embezzlement.
Two officials, Messrs Ruzani and Nyaunde have since been fired in connection with the scandal, while their supervisor and council treasurer, Mr Wakina Cholomoni is on suspension with full benefits.
Murambinda RDC chairperson, Councillor Ngonidzashe Musakaruka, told The Manica Post that Mr Cholomoni was hauled before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday to answer charges of failing to superintend over the council purse.
He said council also dismissed an appeal by Ruzani, while that of Nyaundi was set to be heard today (Friday).
"It is true that we have fired the two employees and suspended their superior on allegations of financial prejudice. They failed to account for council funds, yet it was their core responsibilities to do so. The council is short of funds, but our records show that it was generating enough to finance its operations and the question that we asked them, and failed to answer, was where was all that money going," said Clr Musakaruka.
Clr Musakaruka explained charges against Mr Nyaundi as emanating from an incident in which he received $500 which was meant to cater for councillors' allowances, but did not receipt the money.
The audit discovered, among other things that Buhera RDC was not reconciling its books at the end of the day, that council was using funds before banking – loopholes which were exploited to defraud it.
Manicaland Provincial Administrator, Mr Fungai Mbetsa, said the council must come up with a water tight financial management system to avoid future scandals.
Source - Manica Post
