News / National
I have Morgan Tsvangirai's support: Chombo (Zanu-PF)
21 Apr 2011 at 05:22hrs | Views
The Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo who himself became the subject of a major corruption charge said Prime Minister Tsvangirai gave him the blessing to deal with corruption, which has 'taken root in most local authorities in the country.'
"The Prime Minister supports me on the crackdown on corrupt local authorities. He said 'deal with them'," Chombo told journalists during a press conference this week.
Chombo said he would root out corrupt officials from any of the political parties without discrimination.
Recently he fired Zanu-PF Manyame Rural District councillor Mr Clever Manhombo after he was found guilty of demolishing villagers' homes and flouting council procedures. Seven Harare councillors have been fired together with five from Rusape and four from Bindura. In Mutare some councillors were also dismissed.
A number of audits are underway to determine the veracity of reports against councillors in a number of local authorities.
Chombo said it was unfortunate that the crackdown was being viewed in the light of Zanu-PF vs MDC-T instead of the proven corrupt activities of the councillors.
Dismissed Harare councillor Mr Warship Dumba caused a stir at Town House on Tuesday after he tried to attend a procurement board meeting in defiance of his sacking.
He was unceremoniously ejected from the council chambers by municipal police details.
Yesterday Mr Dumba maintained he would continue to attend council meetings because he was "still a councillor".
He said Minister Chombo used the Urban Councils Act to relieve him of his duties but his deputy Sessel Zvidzai overturned the verdict in his letter "which was in the spirit of the inclusive Government".
Mr Dumba does not deny that he did wrong.
He even compared his misdemeanour to "just taking some groundnuts". He was dismissed on dishonesty, fraud and mismanagement charges.
"I went to Town House but because we have a partisan chamber secretary I was ejected. But I will still continue going there. It was more of politics than law (his dismissal)," he said.
Mr Dumba said it was his party under attack adding that his leadership should take action.
Minister Chombo described Mr Dumba's behaviour as that of a drunkard adding that no amount of posturing would regain him the councillorship.
"Let us wait until their congress is over. He may be campaigning for a post," he said.
He said the letter purporting to reinstate Mr Dumba, his colleague Mr Casper Takura and Mr Manhombo, which was written by Deputy Minister Zvidzai was "probably written in his capacity as MDC-T secretary for local government".
"Remember there is the MDC-T congress. He is campaigning for a post. Due process was followed. I do not remember of any councillor who has won a review because our officers are very strict with details when they do their investigations," he said
"The Prime Minister supports me on the crackdown on corrupt local authorities. He said 'deal with them'," Chombo told journalists during a press conference this week.
Chombo said he would root out corrupt officials from any of the political parties without discrimination.
Recently he fired Zanu-PF Manyame Rural District councillor Mr Clever Manhombo after he was found guilty of demolishing villagers' homes and flouting council procedures. Seven Harare councillors have been fired together with five from Rusape and four from Bindura. In Mutare some councillors were also dismissed.
A number of audits are underway to determine the veracity of reports against councillors in a number of local authorities.
Chombo said it was unfortunate that the crackdown was being viewed in the light of Zanu-PF vs MDC-T instead of the proven corrupt activities of the councillors.
Dismissed Harare councillor Mr Warship Dumba caused a stir at Town House on Tuesday after he tried to attend a procurement board meeting in defiance of his sacking.
He was unceremoniously ejected from the council chambers by municipal police details.
Yesterday Mr Dumba maintained he would continue to attend council meetings because he was "still a councillor".
He said Minister Chombo used the Urban Councils Act to relieve him of his duties but his deputy Sessel Zvidzai overturned the verdict in his letter "which was in the spirit of the inclusive Government".
Mr Dumba does not deny that he did wrong.
He even compared his misdemeanour to "just taking some groundnuts". He was dismissed on dishonesty, fraud and mismanagement charges.
"I went to Town House but because we have a partisan chamber secretary I was ejected. But I will still continue going there. It was more of politics than law (his dismissal)," he said.
Mr Dumba said it was his party under attack adding that his leadership should take action.
Minister Chombo described Mr Dumba's behaviour as that of a drunkard adding that no amount of posturing would regain him the councillorship.
"Let us wait until their congress is over. He may be campaigning for a post," he said.
He said the letter purporting to reinstate Mr Dumba, his colleague Mr Casper Takura and Mr Manhombo, which was written by Deputy Minister Zvidzai was "probably written in his capacity as MDC-T secretary for local government".
"Remember there is the MDC-T congress. He is campaigning for a post. Due process was followed. I do not remember of any councillor who has won a review because our officers are very strict with details when they do their investigations," he said
Source - TZN
