Zimpapers Logo

Midlands Correspondent
Gweru residents recently stormed council offices demanding to know why the local authority had not acted on an audit that exposed alleged corruption.

Commissioner in charge of administration Mr Chamunorwa Parenyi told the residents council had embarked on a manpower evaluation exercise which would pave way for the restructuring of the local authority.

He said a manpower report, which was in line with recommendations of the audit, would be available this week.

The manpower audit is being sponsored by German in Zimbabwe (GIZ) and an interim report has already been presented to the commission running the affairs of Gweru chaired by Mr Tsungai Mhangami.

Council employs more than 1,200 workers who take a huge chunk of the revenue generated by the local authority.

An audit team seconded by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing described the situation as “unsustainable.”

Mr Parenyi said the report would deal with some of the issues which are contained in the audit report with regards to some employees’ terms of employment.

“We are lucky to have GIZ sponsoring a job evaluation exercise which is almost complete. At the moment we can’t target individuals within an organisation. Therefore, we are saying let us complete the exercise and take it from there.

“The interim report was presented to us and we hope the exercise will be completed soon to pave way for the restructuring of the council. Some of the complaints to do with personnel will be resolved through that process,” he said.

The commissioner said council would deal with illegal actions by suspended councillors, which include the improper sale of 400 head of cattle to councillors and council managers.

He said those found on the wrong side of the law would be prosecuted.

“We are definitely going to tackle some of the issues in the audit report. Resolutions which were made outside procedure will be rescinded.

“We are going to follow the leads in the audit report on the scandals and where corruption might have taken place, the culprits will be brought to book.”