News / National
Zanu-PF minister sucked into vehicle scandal
30 May 2024 at 03:45hrs | Views
Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Christopher Magomo, is facing allegations of involvement in a scandal concerning executives at Mvurwi Town Council, according to reports obtained by NewsDay.
Magomo stands accused of defending council executives who allegedly engaged in irregularities by bypassing tender procedures and neglecting stakeholder consultation when procuring a fleet of expensive vehicles.
In a report submitted by the Mvurwi Town Residents and Ratepayers Trust, Secretary Holy Matare accused Minister Magomo, who assumed office after the August 2023 harmonized elections, of being dishonest and evasive in responding to queries from the trust.
However, Magomo refuted the allegations when contacted by NewsDay, stating, "I never received anything of that sort, and I do not entertain rogue media. There are no such circumstances in Mashonaland Central."
Matare's scathing criticism of Magomo highlighted concerns about the prioritization of resource allocation by Mvurwi's council executives, emphasizing the importance of directing funds toward essential town services and amenities for development.
Residents learned of the council's purchase of cars for department heads without any consultation or notification, which Matare argued violates the residents' rights and contravenes constitutional provisions.
Citing Section 194(e) of the Constitution, which mandates timely response to people's needs, and Subsection (h) which emphasizes fostering transparency through accessible information, Matare questioned the lack of transparency and resident engagement in decision-making processes.
Additionally, Matare raised concerns about the excessive spending on workshops by council executives, diverting resources from essential developmental projects.
The residents further questioned the choice of expensive vehicles, suggesting that the total cost could have amounted to around US$700,000, and expressed disappointment over the Minister's lack of response to their concerns.
Magomo stands accused of defending council executives who allegedly engaged in irregularities by bypassing tender procedures and neglecting stakeholder consultation when procuring a fleet of expensive vehicles.
In a report submitted by the Mvurwi Town Residents and Ratepayers Trust, Secretary Holy Matare accused Minister Magomo, who assumed office after the August 2023 harmonized elections, of being dishonest and evasive in responding to queries from the trust.
However, Magomo refuted the allegations when contacted by NewsDay, stating, "I never received anything of that sort, and I do not entertain rogue media. There are no such circumstances in Mashonaland Central."
Residents learned of the council's purchase of cars for department heads without any consultation or notification, which Matare argued violates the residents' rights and contravenes constitutional provisions.
Citing Section 194(e) of the Constitution, which mandates timely response to people's needs, and Subsection (h) which emphasizes fostering transparency through accessible information, Matare questioned the lack of transparency and resident engagement in decision-making processes.
Additionally, Matare raised concerns about the excessive spending on workshops by council executives, diverting resources from essential developmental projects.
The residents further questioned the choice of expensive vehicles, suggesting that the total cost could have amounted to around US$700,000, and expressed disappointment over the Minister's lack of response to their concerns.
Source - newsday
