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NGO calls for Chombo probe
10 Feb 2014 at 09:21hrs | Views
The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association has waded into the controversial Harare City Council saga calling for an investigation to be carried out in the operations of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister, Ignatius Chombo.
Bpra's reaction follows Chombo's arbitrary decision to reinstate suspended town clerk Tendai Mahachi.
Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni suspended Mahachi last week pending investigations into allegations of failing to discharge his duties and furnishing council with the salary schedule for council bosses at Town House.
In solidarity with other concerned voices such as the Combined Harare Residents Association who have questioned Chombo's decision, Bulawayo residents said his intervention into a purely administrative issue was ill-advised and an impediment in the fight against corruption in the country.
Harare resident's representatives have threatened to boycott paying rates if the Harare City Council fails to avail top management salaries within seven days.
Meanwhile, a Harare High Court judge Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo last Friday upheld Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo's decision to reinstate suspended Harare town clerk Tendai Mahachi.
City mayor Bernard Manyenyeni last month suspended Mahachi over allegations of insubordination, but later reversed the decision following a directive from Chombo.
The court ruling was in response to an application by human rights lawyer Tawanda Zhuwarara seeking an order barring Chombo from lifting Mahachi's suspension and interfering with council business.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said it was not possible for the court to order the suspension of Chombo's directive when Manyenyeni had already given effect to the order issued by Chombo after he wrote a letter to Mahachi on Monday last week reversing his decision to suspend him and asking him to report for duty with "immediate effect".
Apparently, it later turned out that Zhuwarara's lawyers were not aware that Manyenyeni had "clandestinely" agreed to Mahachi's return to work.
In the end, the court could therefore not deal with the matter on the merits on the main point being that Chombo had acted illegally by ordering the mayor to reinstate Mahachi. Zhuwarara had petitioned the High Court seeking an order to quash Chombo's directive to reinstate Mahachi who was under investigation for refusing to reveal the salaries of the council's top management.
Bpra's reaction follows Chombo's arbitrary decision to reinstate suspended town clerk Tendai Mahachi.
Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni suspended Mahachi last week pending investigations into allegations of failing to discharge his duties and furnishing council with the salary schedule for council bosses at Town House.
In solidarity with other concerned voices such as the Combined Harare Residents Association who have questioned Chombo's decision, Bulawayo residents said his intervention into a purely administrative issue was ill-advised and an impediment in the fight against corruption in the country.
Harare resident's representatives have threatened to boycott paying rates if the Harare City Council fails to avail top management salaries within seven days.
City mayor Bernard Manyenyeni last month suspended Mahachi over allegations of insubordination, but later reversed the decision following a directive from Chombo.
The court ruling was in response to an application by human rights lawyer Tawanda Zhuwarara seeking an order barring Chombo from lifting Mahachi's suspension and interfering with council business.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said it was not possible for the court to order the suspension of Chombo's directive when Manyenyeni had already given effect to the order issued by Chombo after he wrote a letter to Mahachi on Monday last week reversing his decision to suspend him and asking him to report for duty with "immediate effect".
Apparently, it later turned out that Zhuwarara's lawyers were not aware that Manyenyeni had "clandestinely" agreed to Mahachi's return to work.
In the end, the court could therefore not deal with the matter on the merits on the main point being that Chombo had acted illegally by ordering the mayor to reinstate Mahachi. Zhuwarara had petitioned the High Court seeking an order to quash Chombo's directive to reinstate Mahachi who was under investigation for refusing to reveal the salaries of the council's top management.
Source - dailynews-newsday
