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Cletus Mushanawani Mashonaland Central Bureau
THE probe into alleged financial mismanagement within Bindura Municipality has claimed its first scalp following the resignation of the finance and administration director Mr Lovemore Warurama.

Mr Warurama’s name was mentioned in the terms of reference for the four-member team appointed by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo following his public fistfight with Bindura mayor, Councillor Innocent Zvigumbu during a recent council meeting.

Mr Warurama is expected to take up a new post as Mutare City Council finance director with effect from March 1, 2018. Both the Town Clerk Mr Shangwa Mavesera and Clr Zvigumbu confirmed Mr Warurama’s resignation.

Mr Mavesera said Mr Warurama’s departure was a loss to the local authority, while Clr Zvigumbu said it was “good riddance to bad rubbish”.

Mr Warurama joined Bindura Municipality in 2011. Mr Mavesera gave him credit for turning around the council’s financial fortunes by ensuring that all accounts were audited and employees’ salaries were up to date.

“To us, his resignation is a sad loss,” he said.

“Yes, he is going to take a new posting, but he is leaving at a time when there is mudslinging and fighting in the council’s corridors. He could have done a pleasant job for Bindura, but because of the antagonism in the council, very few people will appreciate his contributions. Very few people will appreciate his worth and this is very unfortunate.

“We will take Mr Warurama’s resignation matter to the full council where it will be deliberated, especially on the waiver of his resignation notice. Our sister council, Mutare City Council, requested that he should start work on March 1 and we will not stand in his way.”

Mr Mavesera said Mr Warurama and his team was in the process of putting up a state-of-the-art Information Communication Technology that was set to revolutionarise the Local Government systems when complete.

“When complete, the system will enable ratepayers to access and settle their accounts from the comfort of their houses and even in the Diaspora,” he said.

But Clr Zvigumbu, who had a widely publicised fistfight with Mr Warurama at the council offices recently, had no kind words for him. “His resignation is good riddance to bad rubbish,” he said.

“He was failing to avail proper figures to the council upon request. He used to head a crucial department, but he was failing the council in a number of issues.”

Mr Warurama denied that he had resigned. “I am still with Bindura Town Council,” he said.

“I don’t know where the town clerk is getting the issue of my resignation from. As for my moving to Mutare, we are still to agree on some issues, but it is a fact that they want me to start on March 1.”