Bulawayo town clerk back at work, Kambarami in court

BULAWAYO Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube is back at work after the municipality engaged a locksmith to unlock his office as Deputy Mayor Councillor Tinashe Kambarami is still holding on to his keys.

Clr Kambarami and Ward Four councillor Silas Chigora on Thursday violently removed Mr Dube from his office and locked it saying they were suspending him from office over various charges including abuse of office. However, Bulawayo Mayor Solomon Mguni, who was away ''on study leave' when the incident occurred lifted the alleged suspension last Friday.

But Clr Kambarami did not return Mr Dube's office keys until council engaged a locksmith to open the town clerk's office on Monday afternoon, Clr Mguni confirmed.

"The office was opened yesterday. We had to get the services of a locksmith hence the Town Clerk is back in his office," said Clr Mguni.

He said Mr Dube through his lawyers had even contemplated to file an urgent court application to compel Clr Kambarami to open his office. Clr Mguni said both council management and councillors should accept that the city is in a crisis that requires them to be level headed.

"We should admit that we are in a crisis and we need to engage as both councillors and management and find a common ground. We need to swallow our pride; arrogance. Blame game will not help us. We need to find common ground because if we don't residents will judge us harshly," said Clr Mguni.

He said council will look into the allegations levelled against Mr Dube procedurally so that the case is brought to its logical conclusion.

Bulawayo Progressive Resident Association (BPRA) co-ordinator Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu said the fight between councillors and management is a result of institutionalised corruption that needs to be dealt with.

"This tiff between staff and councillors is a result of corruption, tenders being awarded to unfit individuals. It's part of the rot that is happening at council and now they are counter accusing each other of corruption and the question is where were they when these things were happening? As residents we want to establish the implications of what this means for the city," he said.

Mr Ndlovu said tomorrow residents will meet over the corruption allegations.

Mr Dube has reportedly angered some councillors after he resisted their moves to interfere in the local authority's operations.

The councillors are said to be miffed especially by the Town Clerk's refusal to let them interfere in the distribution of the $5 million ward retention fund as well as control the subcommittee on allocation of stands and premises.