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they were found guilty of dishonesty, fraud and mismanagement.
Manyame Rural District councillor Clever Manhombo (Zanu-PF) has been fired for misconduct related to the demolition of villagers’ houses violating council procedures.
Harare lawyer Mr Andrew Makoni who chaired both boards of inquiry presented his findings and recommendations to Local Gove-rnment, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday.
His recommendations for the dismissals of the three councillors were accepted and the trio has since been informed of their fate.
On the case of Mr Dumba and Mr Takura, Mr Makoni said the two were unsuitable for office because of the seriousness of their offence.
“Clrs Warship Dumba and Casper Takura, having been convicted of very serious charges of misconduct, be dismissed as they have become unsuitable to continue serving in the office of councillor,” he said.
He recommended that Harare City should recover the money it lost from the duo.
The two faced allegations of dishonesty and mismanagement.
They were accused of misrepresenting to council on three occasions that they were using their own vehicles to attend meetings out of Harare and claimed US$600 each for mileage they were not entitled to.
“The offences of fraud the councillors have been found guilty of are of a very serious nature.
“The seriousness of the offences does not arise from the amount of financial prejudice suffered by the Harare City Council.
“The seriousness arises from the fact that, the councillors are custodians of public funds, from which public funds, they accessed money by fraudulent means,” he said.
Mr Makoni said as stewards of good governance the councillors should have “lived by example by complying with the financial regulations” which they craft in council chambers.
In a scathing comment, Mr Makoni said the fraud was perpetrated over time.
“A bell should have rung in the minds of the councillors, that what they were doing was illegal.
“The fact that the councillors were able to manipulate council officials to make payments in the absence of required documents, does not exonerate the councillors in any way, it actually aggravates the blameworthiness of the councillors,” he said.
On Mr Manhombo, Mr Makoni said having been a councillor for 23 years, he should have used his wealth of knowledge to benefit the residents.
He faced allegations of mismanagement of council property in that he unlawfully took possession of stand number 233 Guzha Township without following council regulations and procedures.
He also faced charges of unlawfully inst-ructing the demolition of properties belonging to Diana Ngulube, Lucia Maravanyika, Nomathemba Ndlovu, Evelyn Zindimo, Patrick Chimbindi, Luckson Masuka, Shumba Sigavana, Zvondai Arineshto and Patricia Muneyi without council authority.
He was convicted of both charges.
“Clr Manhombo’s conduct in respect of both charges, amounts to serious acts of misconduct.
“The blatant disregard of council procedures by developing a stand, which he had not fully paid for, exhibited a domineering attitude towards council officials.
“The wanton acts of demolitions carried outside council procedures and the laws of Zimbabwe, brought serious disrepute to Manyame RDC,” he said.