Zimpapers Logo

Midlands Correspondent
Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development Minister Cde Ignatius Chombo has suspended three Gweru City Council councillors who are facing allegations of abuse of office.

Clrs Albert Chirau, Moses Marecha and Kenneth Sithole were suspended with immediate effect as the ministry investigates the allegations against them.

“Following allegations of abuse of office and council property levelled against you, I, with immediate effect, suspend you from being a councillor according to Section 114 (1) Chapter 9:15 of the Urban Councils Act,” said Minister Chombo in the letters of suspension.

“I will send a team to investigate you as soon as possible and you will be advised accordingly.”

The suspension letters dated May 21 were also copied to Gweru mayor Clr Hamutendi Kombayi and the town clerk Daniel Matawu.

Clr Sithole confirmed receiving the suspension letter and said he would respect the

minister’s decision and would not report for work until the matter is finalised.

Clrs Chirau and Marecha have been under fire from council employees who have been calling for their expulsion from the local authority for allegedly selling pit sand and gravel in Senga Township to a public contractor and pocketing the money.

Clr Chirau also has a pending court case for allegedly leasing a council club house in his ward and pocketing the rentals.

On the other hand, Clr Sithole also has a pending court case after he was arrested for assaulting a council employee following a dispute over the late payment of workers salaries by the local authority.

Simbarashe Lebo, a council driver, was assaulted by Clr Sithole after he asked the councillor why the municipality was failing to pay workers on time.