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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing last Wednesday appointed a four-member tribunal to deliberate on the fate of the 16 suspended Gweru councillors after a forensic audit unearthed rot in the council’s financial management. The tribunal will be chaired by State counsel in the Office of the Attorney General Dr Lixon Chikumbirike with Mr David Maurukira providing secretarial services, while Mr Justin Uladi will prosecute.

Other members are Mr Stephen Chakaipa and Mr Goodwill Khosa. Its mandate is to hear the allegations levelled against the suspended councillors. Speaking during a press briefing in Gweru, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing permanent secretary, Engineer George Mlilo, said the ministry intervened to bring sanity at the Gweru Council following various reports of corruption, abuse of office and unprofessional conduct by councillors and management.

This led to the suspension of an initial three councillors who were later dismissed following the findings of the investigations. “In terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15, the ministry has with effect from the 25th of August 2015, appointed a tribunal to conclude the fate of the suspended councillors,” he said.

Eng Mlilo said it emerged that councillors were responsible for the negligence and gross mismanagement of council funds and property.

“The turmoil bedevilling the smooth operations of council affairs and service delivery stemmed from non-payment of workers’ salaries for a period now exceeding four months, and arrears in statutory obligations by the city. The resultant demonstrations by workers led to the deterioration of both service delivery and relations between management, workers and councillors. The ministry instituted a special audit team to establish the nature, degree, extent and substance of various allegations of abuse of office and malpractice vis-à-vis financial management and affairs of council which were alleged to be in contravention of the provisions of the Public Finance and Management Act and the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15] by such parties who have the fiduciary stewardship to safeguard public funds,” he said.

Eng Mlilo said the audit team unravelled unscrupulous behaviour by councillors as policy-makers, and a high degree of duplicity as representatives of the electorate. He said the city council also contravened the provisions of the enabling legislative frameworks regulating operations of local authorities and defied nearly all ministerial directives and circulars. It also passed a number of resolutions that contravened the Urban Councils Act.

Eng Mlilo said the ministry also appointed three caretakers, Commissioners Tsungai Mhangami, Chomunorwa Parenyi and Mark Choga to oversee the operations of the council in the absence of a full council.