Gweru Town clerk fired

GWERU City Council has dismissed Town Clerk Mr Daniel Matawu after he was found guilty on 15 counts of gross incompetence, inefficiency in the performance of his duty, and substantial neglect of duty, conduct that is inconsistent with the fulfilment of his job.

In a Press briefing on Monday, Gweru City Council Commission chairman Mr Tsunga Mhangami, confirmed the dismissal saying that the local authority was in the process of advertising the position after the Local Government Board approved Mr Matawu's dismissal.

Mr Matawu has been on suspension since January 15 this year, pending investigations into allegations of gross incompetence and inefficiency in the performance of his work together with the entire council, leading to the setting up of the commission which is running affairs of the local authority.

Mr Matawu was facing 29 counts, but was exonerated of 14 others by the Board of Enquiry set up by the Ministry of Local Government Public Works and National Housing, to investigate the matter and deliberate on his fate before making recommendations to the Commission. The board concluded their deliberations last week and found him guilty on 15 counts. They then left it to the commission to either reinstate or dismiss him.

"We cannot dismiss a senior officer without the permission of the Local Government Board. So as a Commission, we applied to the Local Government Board that it would be in the interest of Gweru City Council and the residents to terminate the services of Mr Daniel Matawu as Town Clerk.

"The board has now replied giving us permission to terminate the services of Mr Daniel Matawu. So, his contract with Gweru City Council has been terminated. The City was moving on like an unguided missile. He had lost control of the entire administration," Mr Mhangami said.