Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
THE vehicle at the centre of an ownership wrangle pitting Rusape Town Council and its former town secretary, Mr Joshua Maligwa, was extensively damaged after hitting a cow along Mutare-Harare Highway last Friday night. Mr Maligwa, who is now the Mutare town clerk, was holding onto the vehicle, an Isuzu twin-cab despite a ruling by the Local Government Board that it was Rusape Town Council’s property.

Mr Maligwa took the vehicle as part of his package after he resigned and joined the City of Mutare early this year.

Rusape district police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Muzondiwa Clean confirmed the accident, but was quick to say it was a minor one.

Rusape Town Council chairman, Alderman Amon Chawasarira also confirmed the accident and said: “Yes, I heard that he (Maligwa) was involved in an accident with our vehicle. He sent his driver to get the registration book.

“You see that is where it leads. These are the end results. The driver came and asked for the book saying it is wanted by the police for their investigations. The car is in dispute and we will not release the book to him.”

“We won’t give him because we know his character very well. We want to see how he will deal with this issue. He is a problematic guy. He rushes to the Ministry (Local Government) saying nasty and useless things about other people,” he said and added: “I have instructed my staff not to entertain him and our lawyer is handling the matter. He will not get the vehicle registration book.”

However, there are conflicting reports on who was driving the Isuzu Double Cab, Registration Number AAE6802 between Mr Maligwa and his driver, Mr Fanuel Chimombo.

The accident is said to have happened around Folkington area of Nyazura, but was towed to Headlands Police Station, about 40km from the scene.

Mr Maligwa was spotted on Friday night while driving the vehicle alone in Rusape.

Mr Chimombo, a close lieutenant of Mr Maligwa once worked for Rusape and was also his personal driver before following him to Mutare.

Mr Chimombo on Monday morning visited the Rusape Town Council offices asking for the registration book of the vehicle which was being demanded by the police.

He was told that the vehicle issue was before the courts and was referred to the council lawyers who declined to release the book.

Rusape this week is expected to file an urgent application at the High Court to compel Mr Maligwa to comply with the Local Government Board lawful instructions to return all the terminal benefits that was erroneously awarded to him by the local authority.

Mr Maligwa has also taken his former employers to the Labour Court demanding that they pay him his ‘terminal benefits’.

The matter was set for hearing before Makoni District labour officer, Mr Fortune Gotora, but failed to commence after Mr Maligwa asked for a postponement of the matter to a later date, a move seen by Rusape council as a delaying tactic.

Mr Maligwa was using the vehicle worth $57 000 to carry out official City of Mutare duties as well his private business.

Mr Maligwa was not picking both his mobile and landline phones when approached for a comment.

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