Councillors and senior officials are deeply divided over the next course of action to take against suspended treasurer Albert Zingwe following his recent conviction on charges of theft, fraud and insubordination.
A probe team led by regional magistrate Tendai Mahwe recommended that Zingwe be expelled from council.
But, the council failed to implement the recommendation early this week after eight councillors opposed the move.
Although councillors refused to endorse the recommendations during the full council, Kwekwe mayor Shadreck Tobaiwa is adamant that the recommendations were passed and the matter was now water under the bridge.
“Council endorsed the recommendations that came out of the inquiry and we have since written to the local government board so that they can make the final determination,” said Tobaiwa on Monday.
However, councillor Weston Masiya accused the mayor of usurping powers of council through writing an affidavit to support a position made by town clerk Emanuel Musara without going through council.
“Here is the document which you signed claiming that council had no capacity to deal with the Zingwe issue. Who had given you the powers to say that and why are you now coming to us with these resolutions, if we have no capacity to deal with the matter? Do you want me to come there and give it to you?” asked Masiya before Tobaiwa withdrew from the debate.
However, councillor Queenly Chitopo refused to be cowed and has since written to Kwekwe District Administrator Tenpercent Mutikizizi and Local Government, Rural and Urban Development minister Ignatius Chombo arguing the inquiry was illegally constituted and procedures flagrantly abused to secure a conviction.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“The team of inquiry was handpicked by two people (Tobaiwa and Musara) and many violations of the Urban Councils Act were done by a team of people determined to secure a conviction owing to what now seem to be personal vendettas,” wrote Chitopo.
Council failed to come out with a position on Zingwe although Tobaiwa insists they have one. The development gives the embattled treasurer a new lease of life after it almost looked clear that he was on his way out.
