Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo and his deputy Sesel Zvidzai have taken their tiff to Gokwe where they have reportedly clashed over the suspension of town chairman Darlington Mudondo and secretary Tapiwa Marongwe.
Chombo (Zanu PF) and Zvidzai (MDC-T) have repeatedly clashed in the past with the latter accusing his boss of running the ministry like his private bedroom.
Early this month, Gokwe councillors passed a vote of no confidence in Mudondo accusing him of corruption and bleeding the local authority through shady transactions.
But Zvidzai summoned the councillors to Harare on February 7 and ordered them to rescind the decision.
I met with the Gokwe councillors over the problems which are affecting that particular council, but at no point was there a vote of no confidence in the chairman of the town, said Zvidzai.
We agreed on an action which I cannot discuss with the Press, but changes will be coming soon. Immediately after their meeting with Zvidzai, Mudondo suspended Marongwe charging him with five dischargeable offences bordering on abuse of office, flouting tender procedures and corruption.
However, Chombo set aside the decision and immediately appointed a six-member team to investigate the allegations and report its findings to him within 14 days.
Part of the probe teams terms of reference read: Look into procurement process and procedures as well as the level of involvement on council management and other employees.
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Establish technical competence of companies that are usually awarded tenders by council and underhand dealings with councillors and management.
Mudondo and Marongwe stand accused of clandestinely awarding a Harare-based company, Big Valley, a tender for the purchase of electrical fittings, vehicles and roadside signs worth over $200 000.
