Council employee in trouble over illegal water reconnection

A City of Bulawayo employee is facing renewed disciplinary proceedings after an internal audit recommended the reopening of a misconduct case involving allegations that he accepted a US$50 bribe to illegally reconnect water supplies to a property that owed the local authority thousands of dollars in unpaid rates.

The employee, Munyori Zhou, who works in the Water Cut-off Section of the Financial Services Department, is accused of improperly restoring water services to a property in the city centre without authorisation and outside established council procedures.

According to findings contained in a report by the Internal Audit and Risk Management Department, Zhou allegedly reconnected water at property number 5A Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street after the supply had been disconnected because of outstanding municipal debts.

"The allegation was that Mr Zhou had been filmed accepting a bribe to reconnect water at property number 5A, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street, Bulawayo, and that the disciplinary matter had not been properly concluded," the audit report stated.

Investigators established that Zhou disconnected water supplies to the property on September 3, 2024, due to an outstanding debt of US$2,910.

However, auditors found that he failed to record the property's water meter reading during the disconnection process, contrary to council procedures.

The report further alleges that on the following day, Zhou contacted tenants at the premises using his personal mobile phone and made two separate visits to the property in a council vehicle without obtaining authorisation from his supervisor.

Audit findings indicate that water services were later restored despite the property not appearing in the official reconnection register and without any documented instruction authorising the reconnection.

At the time the water was allegedly restored, the property still owed the council US$2,438.

Investigators also examined allegations that a tenant employee handed Zhou US$50 in connection with the reconnection.

According to the report, a woman identified as Charmaine Chihanga told auditors during a telephone conversation that she had given Zhou the money.

"Charmaine Chihanga disclosed through a phone call made to her on 13 November 2025 that she had handed Mr Munyori Zhou US$50. She further stated that she gave him the money after being instructed to do so by her employers," the report states.

However, auditors noted that they were unable to secure a formal written statement from Chihanga or obtain corroborating evidence proving the alleged payment.

Despite the absence of direct proof of bribery, the audit concluded that there was substantial evidence indicating procedural misconduct.

"Mr Munyori Zhou did not record the meter reading on the day of disconnection, later he unofficially communicated with the premises tenants, drove twice to the property without authority or instruction of his supervisor, and unprocedurally reconnected the water supplies," the report said.

The investigation also uncovered concerns regarding the handling of disciplinary proceedings against Zhou.

According to auditors, disciplinary action had initially been instituted but was never completed.

"Mr Munyori Zhou's disciplinary proceedings were adjourned to allow the prosecutor to amend the charges, but never resumed for unknown reasons," the report states.

The Internal Audit and Risk Management Department questioned how the matter was allowed to stall indefinitely, warning that such failures weaken accountability systems within the local authority.

"Our investigation concluded that while disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against Mr Munyori Zhou, the matter was adjourned before plea for amendment of charges, but for unknown reasons it never resumed," auditors noted.

As a result, the department recommended that the disciplinary process be revived and concluded in accordance with council regulations.

"Mr Munyori Zhou's disciplinary proceedings should resume and the case be procedurally concluded," the report recommended.

Bulawayo councillors adopted the recommendation and stressed the importance of enforcing discipline, protecting municipal revenue and maintaining public confidence in council operations.

The case is likely to attract significant attention as the city continues efforts to improve governance, strengthen internal controls and address allegations of misconduct within its departments.