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Ncube attacks Matsa
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Midlands Minister of State Owen Ncube has publicly castigated Kwekwe Ward 10 councillor and businessman Solomon Matsa for reporting Kwekwe City Council to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) over alleged mismanagement of funds collected from vendors.
Speaking during a briefing at Kwekwe Civic Centre on Monday, Ncube dismissed Matsa's actions as misguided and warned him against pursuing what he described as a "lost battle".
"There is huge investment happening in Kwekwe because the town clerk, her team and the mayor are working very hard," said Ncube. "But I am surprised that one of you councillors rushed to ZACC to report what I call rubbish. This must stop because you cannot win this war without coming to us. You are doing what we call unorthodox operations."
Matsa reported Kwekwe City Council to ZACC in August last year, alleging that the local authority collects between US$100 000 and US$150 000 per month from vendors, but that only about US$4 000 is reflected as reaching council coffers.
He has previously stated that he conducted his own investigations before raising the matter with both council management and the anti-corruption body.
Ncube went further to issue a warning to council officials and heads of Government departments, cautioning them against reporting issues outside the district.
"This will not work. We want this to stop in Kwekwe. Are we in agreement?" he said. "Whether you go outside and change the story, I don't care. We want all issues to be resolved internally in Kwekwe, not outside Kwekwe, because there are some people who are answerable to whatever you say."
The remarks are likely to stir debate over accountability and whistle-blowing, particularly the role of councillors and public officials in reporting suspected corruption to national oversight institutions.
Speaking during a briefing at Kwekwe Civic Centre on Monday, Ncube dismissed Matsa's actions as misguided and warned him against pursuing what he described as a "lost battle".
"There is huge investment happening in Kwekwe because the town clerk, her team and the mayor are working very hard," said Ncube. "But I am surprised that one of you councillors rushed to ZACC to report what I call rubbish. This must stop because you cannot win this war without coming to us. You are doing what we call unorthodox operations."
Matsa reported Kwekwe City Council to ZACC in August last year, alleging that the local authority collects between US$100 000 and US$150 000 per month from vendors, but that only about US$4 000 is reflected as reaching council coffers.
He has previously stated that he conducted his own investigations before raising the matter with both council management and the anti-corruption body.
Ncube went further to issue a warning to council officials and heads of Government departments, cautioning them against reporting issues outside the district.
"This will not work. We want this to stop in Kwekwe. Are we in agreement?" he said. "Whether you go outside and change the story, I don't care. We want all issues to be resolved internally in Kwekwe, not outside Kwekwe, because there are some people who are answerable to whatever you say."
The remarks are likely to stir debate over accountability and whistle-blowing, particularly the role of councillors and public officials in reporting suspected corruption to national oversight institutions.
Source - Mirror
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