Bindura Municipality is in turmoil after town clerk Evelyn Madziire returned to work last week following her arrest last year on charges of abuse of office, corruption and flouting tender procedures.
Madziire was removed from remand last week, but in her absence, councillors had moved a motion to impeach her for attending to council business while she was on suspension in defiance of the law.
Sources told NewsDay that Madziire addressed workers last week and declared that she was coming after those behind her arrest, and declared that she was the “one in charge and calling the shots.”
But the workers say she was trying to silence them from testifying in her legal troubles by instilling a sense of fear.
“There is now low morale at the council since no one knows whom she is targeting,” an insider said.
She was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission in October last year for breach of procurement procedures and has been on remand until last month.
She has not been acquitted but the matter will now be pursued by way of summons.
Councillors were however, unhappy that she had continued to conduct council business when she was supposed to be on suspension.
- Mayhem as schools reject Zimdollar fees
- TIMB boss in court
- Zacc descends on 'delinquent' schools
- A president who’s always seeing enemies, detractors is oftentimes the problem
Keep Reading
In a report issued by the councillors seen by NewsDay, Madziire is accused of employing her son as her personal driver without following due processes.
“For instance, from February 7 to 11, 2023, she travelled to Mauritius to attend an awards ceremony for governance. The trip was discussed at the first special council meeting, which took place on January 24, when approval to spend funds and travel authority was requested,” reads the report.
“The council decided not to go on the trip. So, defying the board’s decision and acting without Cabinet approval, she travelled to Mauritius with her personal assistant, Chipo Chidavaenzi.
“They claim that a well-wisher who may become an investor in the council donated about US$1 000 to help fund the trip.”
She undertook the trip to Mauritius without Cabinet approval while council refused to authorise the junket.
She also turned up at the State House to sign Performance Contracts for Senior Public Office bearers last month.
However, with Bindura mayor, Jacob Gwature, also facing his own legal woes, the council has been immobilized to act.
Gwature was arrested in September last year on allegations of fraud involving US$6,970. He has been attending court regularly in Harare on the issue.
Madziire is currently in the eye of a storm after she employed her son as her personal driver without following due process.
She was once suspended in 2021, while she was acting housing director to allow investigations into irregular sale of residential stand, 166 Cleverhill, 1289 Woodbrooke North and 612 CBD Bindura after the Zacc raised alarm.
She also entered into a verbal agreement with a company, Tockwell to repair the municipality’s grader for repairs where it was allegedly stripped and grounded.
However, the company is now demanding US$10000. The JCB was in running state when she released it to the company.
“It was however noted that there was no written agreement between Council and Tockwell (Pvt) Ltd and all the transaction were done verbally,” part of council minutes dated 18 March 2024.
“The committee was also informed that Tockwell (Pvt) Ltd had also stripped the equipment that had been sent for repairs.”
Asked for a comment, Madziire, said:
I have not attended any council meeting. l cannot comment on the charges levelled against me. The fact that l am currently out speaks for itself.”
Madziire has close links to Zanu PF chef in the province, including former Mashonland Provincial Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga, and incumbemt minister Christoper Magomo.
