BCC backs Zhou for Town Clerk

THE Bulawayo City Council has recommended the appointment of Sikhangele Zhou as the city's substantive Town Clerk. Councillors resolved to recommend the appointment of Zhou during a special meeting held in council chambers on Wednesday night.

The gathering was convened after the scheduled full council meeting that was held earlier on the same day.

The Chronicle understands that the appointment of Zhou, who has been the acting Town Clerk since the death of Middleton Nyoni in September last year, now awaits ratification by the Local Government Board (LGB) following the resolution.

The LGB has the final say on the appointment and will conduct its own interviews with the successful candidate.

The decision by councillors to give Zhou, the current Chamber Secretary, the top council job raises eyebrows as sources said she came third in interviews for the position.

City fathers were yesterday mum on the latest development.

Deputy Mayor Gift Banda declined to comment on the matter and referred inquiries to Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo.

The city's public relations officer, Bongiwe Ngwenya, also referred the matter to the mayor, but his mobile phone went unanswered.

A person who answered the phone at the mayor's residence said he was not at home last night.

Zhou professed ignorance on her alleged appointment.

"I'm hearing this from you. I haven't received any letter confirming that. I don't even attend meetings where such issues are discussed," she said.

A source said Zhou came third in interviews, but councillors had decided that she takes over the top job.

The BCC had shortlisted four candidates for the post of town clerk. These are Victoria Falls Town Clerk Christopher Dube, former Tsholotsho Rural District Council chief executive officer, Ronnie Dube, Acting Town Clerk, Zhou and Hwange Colliery finance manager Gift Sibanda.

Said the source: "She (Zhou) came third in the interviews but councillors agreed that she should take up the position. Victoria Falls Town Clerk Christopher Dube came out tops in the interviews while Ronnie Dube came second. Councillors opted for Zhou because they said she was up to the task.

"The general purposes committee members, the Mayor and his Deputy, had selected Dube from Victoria Falls for the job. But other councillors said Zhou was the right person for the council's top post. They argued that council had achieved a lot under her leadership so they felt it wasn't okay to disturb a working system. The councillors said after all Dube is coming from a smaller town and might not be able to shoulder bigger responsibilities."