News / National
Kambarami suspends Bulawayo Town Clerk, trying to capture City council
11 Jul 2019 at 17:11hrs | Views
Acting Bulawayo mayor Tinashe Kambarami has reportedly suspended the city's Town Clerk Christopher Dube on allegations of misappropriating council funds.
In a letter dated July 11, 2019, Cllr Kambarami, accused the Town Clerk of failing to manage the city's water crises which has seen some parts of the city going for more than a week without water.
Dube also stands accused of misappropriating the ward retention funds, abuse of office and failure to implement council resolutions.
"The city has experienced the worst water delivery ever due to lack your supervision. Your failure to effectively manage repairs and maintenance works has exposed the city to water borne diseases such as cholera and Typhoid," Kambarami stated in a letter addressed to Dube.
Kambarami, in the letter, alleged Dube misappropriaed ward retention funds and misled the council on the amount available in the account.
"According to council minutes submitted by July 3 2019, the ward retention fund is supposed to have $4 444 909 but as of July 10 the actual balance is less than, $10 000. There are allegations you paid some contractors without the approval of the council and yet to date no work has been done resulting in the council losing money," read the letter.
Kambarami said Dube's failure to administer and implement the ward retention fund has led to poor service delivery in all wards.
Dube is further alleged to have connived with former mayor Alderman Martin Moyo in 2017 where he was offered the permission to mine gold at Good Hope/Aiselby Farm contrary to the council procedure.
"In 2017, the city advertised for expression of interest for Ascot redevelopment and these expressions of interest were received yet they have not been submitted to the council for consideration," alleged the acting Mayor.
Kambarami said such conduct by the Town Clerk has resulted in the city losing out on potential investment and business which is a hindrance to vision 2024 of attaining a vibrant economy dubbed "Moving forward with development".
In line with the suspension, Dube has been barred from entering council departments and offices.
He has also been asked to surrender all council property in his possession.
The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) claims that a faction of corrupt MDC councillors in the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) who appear to have vested interest in the procurement process of the council is now planning to get the BCC top management including the Town Clerk fired.
Bulawayo has been controlled by the MDC, has long been accused of being an enemy of progress, since 2000.
In pursuance of 'kuzvidira jecha/ukuthela inhlabathi' philosophy, these councillors want to influence the tender and procurement processes and are now accusing the management of being incompetent in implementing their resolutions.
BPRA claims that it is in possession of the evidence
"These councilors want to influence the tender and procurement processes and are now accusing the management of being incompetent in implementing their resolutions.
Under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act councilors, however, do not play a part in procurement processes.
The last group of councillors was warned against putting pressure on the management seems like once again the management has received another corrupt group.
Sometime in January 2019, it was reported that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) opened an investigation against 23 MDC councillors and two National Assembly members implicated in a $60 million tender scandal.
Other charges are related to the sell of stands to MDC councillors in a self-enriching scam.
The councillors accused in the stands scam include Sithabile Mataka, Thabitha Ngwenya, Gladys Masuku, Macdonald Chunga, Tamani Moyo, Nephat Sibanda, Clayton Zana, Thobani Ncube, Collet Ndlovu, Siboniso Khumalo, Reuben Matengu, Mazama Dube, Gideon Mangena and former councilor Edward Manning.
The probe stems from a Bulawayo City Council report compiled by an investigating team made up of Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing top officials.
A tip-off from the Bulawayo provincial administrator's office in August 2015 precipitated the investigations which exposed the suspended Zifa vice president Mr Banda, Makokoba MP Mr James Sithole and Cllr Charles Moyo of Ward 9.
Government's probe team interrogated council's pricing model for land to councillors, council officials and the public.
Investigators also looked at the procurement system and whether due was done in terms of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15).
After perusing council minutes, tender documents, maps and policy documents, the Government investigation team headed by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry director engineering services, Engineer Hungwe, unearthed that council awarded a $59, 6 million tender to Terracotta without following proper procedure.
More to follow.....
In a letter dated July 11, 2019, Cllr Kambarami, accused the Town Clerk of failing to manage the city's water crises which has seen some parts of the city going for more than a week without water.
Dube also stands accused of misappropriating the ward retention funds, abuse of office and failure to implement council resolutions.
"The city has experienced the worst water delivery ever due to lack your supervision. Your failure to effectively manage repairs and maintenance works has exposed the city to water borne diseases such as cholera and Typhoid," Kambarami stated in a letter addressed to Dube.
Kambarami, in the letter, alleged Dube misappropriaed ward retention funds and misled the council on the amount available in the account.
"According to council minutes submitted by July 3 2019, the ward retention fund is supposed to have $4 444 909 but as of July 10 the actual balance is less than, $10 000. There are allegations you paid some contractors without the approval of the council and yet to date no work has been done resulting in the council losing money," read the letter.
Kambarami said Dube's failure to administer and implement the ward retention fund has led to poor service delivery in all wards.
Dube is further alleged to have connived with former mayor Alderman Martin Moyo in 2017 where he was offered the permission to mine gold at Good Hope/Aiselby Farm contrary to the council procedure.
"In 2017, the city advertised for expression of interest for Ascot redevelopment and these expressions of interest were received yet they have not been submitted to the council for consideration," alleged the acting Mayor.
Kambarami said such conduct by the Town Clerk has resulted in the city losing out on potential investment and business which is a hindrance to vision 2024 of attaining a vibrant economy dubbed "Moving forward with development".
In line with the suspension, Dube has been barred from entering council departments and offices.
He has also been asked to surrender all council property in his possession.
The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) claims that a faction of corrupt MDC councillors in the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) who appear to have vested interest in the procurement process of the council is now planning to get the BCC top management including the Town Clerk fired.
Bulawayo has been controlled by the MDC, has long been accused of being an enemy of progress, since 2000.
BPRA claims that it is in possession of the evidence
"These councilors want to influence the tender and procurement processes and are now accusing the management of being incompetent in implementing their resolutions.
Under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act councilors, however, do not play a part in procurement processes.
The last group of councillors was warned against putting pressure on the management seems like once again the management has received another corrupt group.
Sometime in January 2019, it was reported that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) opened an investigation against 23 MDC councillors and two National Assembly members implicated in a $60 million tender scandal.
Other charges are related to the sell of stands to MDC councillors in a self-enriching scam.
The councillors accused in the stands scam include Sithabile Mataka, Thabitha Ngwenya, Gladys Masuku, Macdonald Chunga, Tamani Moyo, Nephat Sibanda, Clayton Zana, Thobani Ncube, Collet Ndlovu, Siboniso Khumalo, Reuben Matengu, Mazama Dube, Gideon Mangena and former councilor Edward Manning.
The probe stems from a Bulawayo City Council report compiled by an investigating team made up of Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing top officials.
A tip-off from the Bulawayo provincial administrator's office in August 2015 precipitated the investigations which exposed the suspended Zifa vice president Mr Banda, Makokoba MP Mr James Sithole and Cllr Charles Moyo of Ward 9.
Government's probe team interrogated council's pricing model for land to councillors, council officials and the public.
Investigators also looked at the procurement system and whether due was done in terms of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15).
After perusing council minutes, tender documents, maps and policy documents, the Government investigation team headed by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry director engineering services, Engineer Hungwe, unearthed that council awarded a $59, 6 million tender to Terracotta without following proper procedure.
More to follow.....
Source - Online
