KADOMA — Kadoma City Council Housing and Community Services director Joel Madzivanyika has been sent on forced leave to pave way for investigations into alleged unprocedural sale of housing stands that could have prejudiced the local authority of thousands of dollars in potential revenue.
Kadoma mayor Peter Matambo yesterday confirmed Madzivanyika’s suspension, who has since appeared in court for allegedly swindling council of $3 500 in a land deal that went sour. The housing director is on indefinite forced leave without pay or benefits.
“Council requested the housing director to go on forced leave so that investigations into the sale of stands is done to establish the extent of prejudice on the part of council. We noted that one case involving the $3 500 that exposed Madzvivanyika could be a sign that all was not well in the department, therefore we had to cast the net wider. A full forensic investigations would do us justice,” Matambo told NewsDay yesterday.
Madzivanyika has surrendered his official vehicle and was instructed not to visit Town House until the probe is completed, the mayor said. Madzvivanyika (43) and co-accused Paradzayi Chipiringo (35) allegedly connived to acquire and sell stand number 5921 Mornington, Kadoma, without following council procedures before pocketing $3 500 which they converted to their own use.
They appeared last week for routine remand before magistrate Takawira Mugabe facing two counts of contravening sections 136 and 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23, fraud and criminal abuse of public office respectively.
The pair was remanded to November 21 2011 on $200 bail each with stringent conditions.
