KWEKWE — The Local Government Board (LGB) has turned down the local authority’s recommendation for the appointment of Morris Mutema as substantive city treasurer and instead, appointed Rejoice Maweni for the post.
Blessed Mhlanga
The latest development follows the LGB’s resolution referenced 06/2013, which was eventually included in Kwekwe town clerk Emmanuel Musara’s February manpower report and adopted at a full council meeting last Thursday.
Mutema, who had acted in that capacity since 2011 following the expulsion of Albert Zingwe over allegations of fraud and theft, had all but secured the top post after he finished tops during interviews conducted by the local authority last December.
However, he was later deemed to have failed to perform well during interviews held by the LGB.
Speaking during a full council meeting, councillor Weston Masiya, said: “I am intrigued that Mutema, who scored a 100% during local interviews went and performed so badly as to finish last during those interviews. There is something suspicious going on here. But all the same, I am happy that we have a new treasurer.”
Mutema will now revert to his post of audit manager after years being accused of theft and fraud at the helm of the local council’s purse.
An audit report compiled by top auditors from the Local Government ministry on Kwekwe City council affairs accused Mutema of violating financial regulations and presiding over massive fraud which could have cost council over $100 000 to briefcase companies.
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Part of the report reads: “The acting treasurer does not appear to appreciate the need to save public funds and deliberately ignores corporate governance principles for selfish motives.”
