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Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Chitungwiza councillors have directed management to appoint Mr Admire Chipunza as the substantive auditor for the town and to upgrade all employees in acting capacities who hold requisite qualifications for their positions. This followed a heated debate during a recent full council meeting where councillors queried why their recommendation for such people to be made substantive was not captured in the minutes of the General Purpose Committee that were supposed to be approved during the meeting.

The councillors cited the case of Mr Chipunza who had been acting auditor for over three years despite being qualified for the job.

Acting chamber secretary and human resources director Mrs Mary Mukonyora said she was told by town Clerk Dr George Makunde that he preferred that due process be followed and that names of such persons should be recommended to the Local Government Board for approval.

She said there was a circular that came from the parent ministry that people who hold sensitive positions and directly report to the town clerk should go through that board.

Councillors then demanded to see the circular, but management failed to produce it.
Clr Richard Chamutsa then read a clause in the Urban Council’s Act and Human Resources Policy which stated that people who work in acting capacity for over six months and are qualified should be made substantive.

He also argued that the Urban Councils Act articulates that only candidates for grades above 15 should go through the Local Government Board and the auditor is in grade 13, which does not require the board’s approval.

After the debate, the councillors unanimously agreed that the Mr Chipunza be made substantive and that all people in acting positions and are qualified be upgraded.

Sources at the council said senior members of the management team had been blocking the promotion of Mr Chipunza because of fear of being exposed.

“Management wanted to clandestinely hold the interviews for that position without the councillors’ knowledge because they wanted to appoint someone who would dance to their tune, but councillors were alerted and they blocked the process,” said the source.