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Gwanda cries over ‘Chombo meddling’

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GWANDA — A storm is brewing between Gwanda Municipality and the Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development, Ignatius Chombo, amid reports the Local Government Board has imposed its own candidate as chamber secretary for the local authority. Gwanda mayor Lionel DeNecker yesterday confirmed the looming clash, adding he would confront Chombo today over […]

GWANDA — A storm is brewing between Gwanda Municipality and the Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development, Ignatius Chombo, amid reports the Local Government Board has imposed its own candidate as chamber secretary for the local authority.

Gwanda mayor Lionel DeNecker yesterday confirmed the looming clash, adding he would confront Chombo today over the issue.

DeNecker said sometime last year, the council advertised a vacancy for the post of chamber secretary and subsequently conducted interviews with prospective candidates.

He said the council came up with three candidates and their names were submitted to the Local Government Board in Harare for consideration.

The board makes the final approval for appointment of senior council officials countrywide.

“Out of the three names we submitted no one was selected by the board. The board instead imposed a candidate who was number four on the list and whose name was not even submitted for consideration.”

According to DeNecker, the board ordered that the current acting incumbent, Priscilla Nkala, be appointed as substantive chamber secretary.

“I will be meeting Minister Chombo tomorrow (today) in Harare at 9am to discuss the issue. We are asking for a right to re-advertise the post and have the appointment done procedurally,” said DeNecker.

He said as a local authority, they knew employees who were capable of holding certain positions, adding the Local Government Board’s chosen candidate did not suit their set criteria.

Both Chombo and Local Government Board chairperson Nimrod Chiminya could not be reached for comment yesterday.