News / Local
Town clerk ouster divides council
11 Jan 2015 at 10:29hrs | Views
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is reportedly set for a showdown with some circles within council chambers pushing for the ouster of town clerk, Mr Middleton Nyoni, who has been on sick leave for the past five months.
Mr Nyoni has been on sick leave since August and has had to travel to India where he is seeking medical attention.
"It will be recalled that the general purposes committee had been notified about the town clerk's desire to take vacation leave in two sessions covering the period 1-21 August 2014 and also from 10-28 November 2014.
"Unfortunately, the town clerk was not in a position to resume duty on 22 August 2014 as expected due to illness, he was therefore on sick leave. It was advised that the town clerk was receiving medical attention outside the country," reads a confidential report detailing Mr Nyoni's conspicuous absence from council.
The chamber secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, has been acting town clerk ever since.
However, in the latest developments, impeccable council sources have revealed that there was a move to oust Mr Nyoni on the basis that he had taken too long to assume his duties yet he was still on the council's payroll.
"A lot is being said concerning the town clerk's current condition and status within the local authority. Some officials have even approached councillors saying that he be retired on medical grounds.
"The majority of the councillors have, however, resisted this move arguing that Mr Nyoni is the only one who can voluntarily retire. The town clerk's condition itself has been subject to a lot of debate with allegations that he was poisoned," said the source.
Contacted for comment, the acting town clerk, Mrs Zhou, acknowledged Mr Nyoni's being on prolonged sick leave but said his ouster or possible retirement on medical grounds was subject to current labour laws and conditions of service.
"I can confirm that Mr Nyoni is on indefinite sick leave. He is currently outside the country seeking medical attention. The last time I talked to him he was also not sure when he will be discharged from hospital, saying he was awaiting a review from the doctors.
"As for this issue of his alleged ouster, you must realise that this is governed by his conditions of service and as far as we are concerned despite the prolonged leave, it is still within the conditions of service. Even when we reach a stage where he has to retire on medical grounds, there are still labour laws which we have to consider," said Mrs Zhou.
She further dismissed allegations that Mr Nyoni had been poisoned, saying that he had simply faced complications during his first vacation leave.
"Those are all baseless rumours. I know people have alleged he was poisoned here at work which is not true at all. The fact is he fell ill three days before he was set to return to work. Unfortunately his condition worsened thus forcing him to seek medical attention outside the country. There is nothing to do with any food poisoning.
"We however remain hopeful that his condition will improve and he will soon return to work," Mrs Zhou said.
Mr Nyoni has been on sick leave since August and has had to travel to India where he is seeking medical attention.
"It will be recalled that the general purposes committee had been notified about the town clerk's desire to take vacation leave in two sessions covering the period 1-21 August 2014 and also from 10-28 November 2014.
"Unfortunately, the town clerk was not in a position to resume duty on 22 August 2014 as expected due to illness, he was therefore on sick leave. It was advised that the town clerk was receiving medical attention outside the country," reads a confidential report detailing Mr Nyoni's conspicuous absence from council.
The chamber secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, has been acting town clerk ever since.
However, in the latest developments, impeccable council sources have revealed that there was a move to oust Mr Nyoni on the basis that he had taken too long to assume his duties yet he was still on the council's payroll.
"A lot is being said concerning the town clerk's current condition and status within the local authority. Some officials have even approached councillors saying that he be retired on medical grounds.
"The majority of the councillors have, however, resisted this move arguing that Mr Nyoni is the only one who can voluntarily retire. The town clerk's condition itself has been subject to a lot of debate with allegations that he was poisoned," said the source.
Contacted for comment, the acting town clerk, Mrs Zhou, acknowledged Mr Nyoni's being on prolonged sick leave but said his ouster or possible retirement on medical grounds was subject to current labour laws and conditions of service.
"I can confirm that Mr Nyoni is on indefinite sick leave. He is currently outside the country seeking medical attention. The last time I talked to him he was also not sure when he will be discharged from hospital, saying he was awaiting a review from the doctors.
"As for this issue of his alleged ouster, you must realise that this is governed by his conditions of service and as far as we are concerned despite the prolonged leave, it is still within the conditions of service. Even when we reach a stage where he has to retire on medical grounds, there are still labour laws which we have to consider," said Mrs Zhou.
She further dismissed allegations that Mr Nyoni had been poisoned, saying that he had simply faced complications during his first vacation leave.
"Those are all baseless rumours. I know people have alleged he was poisoned here at work which is not true at all. The fact is he fell ill three days before he was set to return to work. Unfortunately his condition worsened thus forcing him to seek medical attention outside the country. There is nothing to do with any food poisoning.
"We however remain hopeful that his condition will improve and he will soon return to work," Mrs Zhou said.
Source - Sunday News
