Chimene declares self de facto Mutare head

Mandiitawepi Chimene Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister has declared herself the de facto head of Mutare City Council, claiming she had been given the mandate to oversee council business by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

Addressing a stakeholders' meeting attended by residents' associations, councillors and non-governmental organisations in the city last Friday, Chimene credited herself for an audit, which recently unearthed massive financial irregularities, which led to the resignation of town clerk, Obert Muzawazi.

Chimene said she had influenced Kasukuwere to order a forensic audit report of the local authority that exposed massive rot by the council's management.