Uproar over council boss’ golden handshake’

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Luthe, who was the town secretary for two decades, resigned at the end of April following his arrest late last year over corruption allegations.

BY SHARON SIBINDI Some Plumtree residents are not happy about the town council’s alleged plans to give former secretary Davies Luthe a golden hand shake as they accuse him of running down the local authority during his long reign.

Luthe, who was the town secretary for two decades, resigned at the end of April following his arrest late last year over corruption allegations.

Residents claimed that Luthe was likely to walk away with a Toyota Fortuner vehicle and a house as his package.

“Council has increased our rates and we suspect they are doing this to fund Luthe’s package,” said a disgruntled resident.

“There are a lot of problems that were created by the former secretary and they need money to be rectified.

“Giving him a car and house would not be good for council, which is struggling financially.”

Plumtree Town Council chairperson Fanisani Dube refused to comment on Luthe’s package, which he said was still being discussed within the local authority.

“It’s not fair to comment on someone who has left his job, someone who has resigned,” Dube said.

“The issue of his package is still under council consideration. Council is still deciding.

“It’s difficult to comment on something that we are still deliberating on especially commenting on the results or outcome.

“On the projects which he was working on, honestly you can’t comment on someone who has already left.

“They shouldn’t put us councilors in a difficult situation.”

Luthe is currently out on bail following his arrest by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission late last year.

He was accused of fraudulently selling council stands valued at more than US$1.8 million to a businessman based in South Africa.

The former town secretary was in 2019 suspended over the scandal.

Luthe denies the charges against him and says he was only implementing council resolutions as part of his job.

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