CHINHOYI – A three-member investigating team appointed by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo has descended on Chinhoyi Municipality to preside over hearings into the suspensions in February of three councillors accused of “indecent behaviour.”
Report by Own Correspondent
Chinhoyi town clerk Sherpherd Kamba confirmed the development yesterday, but referred all questions to Makonde district administrator and former acting town clerk Webster Tembo who was reportedly handling the matter. Tembo could not be reached for comment.
Zanu PF special interest councillor Simba Kanzou yesterday confirmed testifying before the inquiry panel.
“I am coming from the hearing where I was summoned to give my testimony over the matter involving Ward 11 Councillor Tendai Musonza as I was the first witness,” said Kanzou.
The councillor was involved in a confrontation with Musonza during a workshop recently after the latter attended a civic meeting which took place in council chambers wearing a T-shirt inscribed “Mugabe Must Go”. The incident infuriated Kanzou who is a Zanu PF provincial executive member.
Musonza was subsequently suspended.
The inquiry team was also expected to look into the suspension of former Chinhoyi acting mayor Busani Dube-Marumahoko (Ward 12) and Simeon Gotami (Ward 5) for their alleged involvement in a stands scam that is currently before the courts. The trio, however, professed ignorance over the inquiries.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The suspensions were handed in terms of Section 114 (1) of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15).
Meanwhile, Mayor Chipo Mlotshwa told NewsDay disciplinary hearings involving council staffers and councillors had become “too frequent” and were putting a strain on the already cash-strapped local authority, thereby compromising efficient service delivery.
Thousands of dollars have been lost in legal fees, travel and subsistence allowances, among other incidental costs, Mlotshwa said.
Last year, council paid $30 000 to investigators into the hearings of three dismissed councillors, including former mayor Claudius Nyamhondoro. It also contested a Labour Court order to reinstate 13 former Zinwa workers. The municipality is currently embroiled in another labour battle against former town clerk Ezekiel Muringani who won an arbitral award to bounce back, among other labour wrangles.
Chombo recently wrote to council instructing it to set aside resources to fund the latest sittings which he said should be complete within five working days.
According to the letter written by Chombo, the hearing committee’s terms of reference shall be, to validate allegations of improper conduct and to determine the prejudice suffered by council thereon, to determine whether the conduct of councillors renders them unsuitable to hold public office.
