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of criminal abuse of office after allegedly authorising the withdrawal of an undisclosed amount of cash from the council’s account.
He is also accused of pocketing US$200 from the council medical assistance fund.
Part of the money was allegedly used to settle medical bills for the mayor’s relatives.
Acting Mashonaland Central provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Petros Masikati confirmed the mayor’s arrest.
“We have arrested him over three criminal acts,” Asst Insp Masikati said.
He said allegations against Madamombe arose on December 14, 2010 after he signed council expenditure forms authorising the town clerk to withdraw an undisclosed amount of money.
Madamombe allegedly breached council resolutions prohibiting the withdrawal of funds without council authority.
On the other charge, it is alleged Madamombe took US$200 from the local authority’s Medical Assistance Fund without authority.
Madamombe, it is alleged, used this money to pay for his relatives’ medical bills.
Asst Insp Masikati said Madamombe also faces a third charge of bribing a council official at Bindura Municipality to give him a letter of complaint signed by seven councillors.
The letter was written to Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo, Asst Insp Masikati said.
He said Madamombe allegedly promised to pay the record keeper US$200 for the document.
Asst Insp Masikati said a trap was set for Madamombe.
“Through the co-operation of the council official, investigations were instituted to establish his motive and a trap was set for Madamombe the following day at around 9am,” he said.
Asst Insp Masikati said Madamombe was arrested at a secluded area behind the Pelhams Complex in Bindura last Friday.
“Police recovered the letter of complaint and US$100 that he had given to the record keeper,” he said.
Madamombe is expected to appear in court today.
Meanwhile, Gweru Mayor Tedius Chimombe and two councillors Lawrence Rutsvara and Taurai Demo (all MDC-T) have been implicated in a land scam.
According to documents from Gweru City Council, last month the trio allegedly bought commercial stands meant for the general public at discounted prices in contravention of local authority procedures.
Clr Chimombe allegedly bought a stand in Gweru’s CBD for US$16 400 while Clrs Rutsvara and Demo bought commercial stands in Mkoba and the CBD for US$27 000 each.
The stand the mayor bought had a market value of US$35 000 while the others are priced at US$60 000 each, it is alleged.
Further, the cash purchase price offered to the councillors required them to pay up on or before signing the agreement of sale.
According to a letter from the chamber secretary, the three were however, given 40 percent discounts and allowed to pay in installments.
Efforts to get comment from Mayor Chimombe and the two councillors were fruitless as they were said to be out of office, but Gweru Residents Association chairman Mr Roderick Shumba said they too had received the reports.
“We will give you all the information once we have met with the council officials and discussed the way forward,” he said.
Last week, Harare MDC-T councillors Warship Dumba and Casper Takura were fired after they were found guilty of dishonesty, fraud and mismanagement.
The Government has ordered all Midlands local authorities to be audited to ensure they operate at required standards.
Minister Chombo launched the administrative audit system last week to ascertain council compliance with procedures and regulations.