KWEKWE — The four-member committee dispatched by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo four months ago to investigate allegations of corruption and abuse of council property at the local authority, has not had its report made public, it has emerged.
The Kwekwe Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Development Association (KRRDA), which played a leading role in inviting Chombo to send the probe team, is not amused and is calling on Chombo to release the report.
“We are growing impatient over the delays in releasing the report because after four months, we are still in the dark over the state of affairs at our local authority,” said KRRDA secretary-general Alex Homela.
Secretary for Local Government Killian Mupingo told NewsDay yesterday the report would be made public once the committee had presented its findings to Chombo.
“I am not really sure as to what is causing the delays in releasing the report, but once it’s presented to the minister the report will be made public. As we speak it has not yet been presented to him for his consideration,” said Mupingo.
Local Government deputy minister Sesil Zvidzai, who has openly clashed with his boss, said he suspected Chombo could be too embarrassed to release the report because there may be nothing to report on.
“I am not sure why it has taken that long to release the report, but part of the reason I am sure is that there is nothing to report on. They are embarrassed to release it because under normal circumstances a report should have been concluded and presented to the public and the council involved,” said Zvidzai.
The four-member committee was sent in November to investigate allegations of corruption against management and the MDC-T-dominated council, including details surrounding the dismissal of city treasurer Albert Zingwe and the appointment of an audit manager Moriss Mutema as the acting treasurer.
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The report is expected to end years of rifts between the city fathers and residents over the management of funds and council property.
