By Brighton Chiseva
ZAKA – Nepotism which saw outspoken Senator and Zaka’s Chief Nhema born Rangarirai Bwawanda, together with Zaka South MP who is also Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairperson for Zaka Clemence Chiduwa’s wives being elected into Zaka Rural District Council (RDC) as councilors under the women’s quota is now haunting fellow councilors.
The two councilors, Portia Gwese and Fungai Magadzire who are both wives to the powerful Zanu PF stalwarts in Zaka went on to be elected finance committee chairperson and Council Chairperson respectively, positions that come with a lot of influence on how the local authority operates.
However, local councilors are now operating like they are walking on eggshells as they are afraid to clash with the two councilors and offend their husbands who could retaliate in drastic measures considering the position Nhema and Chiduwa hold.
Recently, a WhatsApp group named Zaka RDC 2023 Cllrs had to be closed following a clash between Councilor Gwese and council vice chair Svinurai Dawn Chivore after the latter complained that he was verbally assaulted wrongfully by the chief on allegations that he had asked why his wife had attended a council human resources meeting.
TellZim News has leaked chats from the WhatsApp group where Chivore said he was hurt that he was verbally assaulted by the chief whereas he was not the one who had asked, meaning that the chief’s wife had reported the matter to her Senator husband.
Contacted for comment Chief Nhema refuted the allegations and said he only heard about it as a rumor but it was not true.
“That’s a lie, I never scolded anyone. I don’t know where that is coming from. I only heard it as rumors but that’s not true,” said Nhema.
Though Chivore could neither confirm nor deny when contacted for comment, he said he could not comment on such matters and said the matter was already at the provincial party office, advising the reporter to get a comment there.
However, in the group chat, Chivore said he was called outside during the meeting by the chief who went on to ask him who he was to question his wife’s presence in the meeting as if the allowances came from his pocket.
“There is an incident which happened in council today that didn’t go down well with me. We had an HR and Admin meeting. Whilst in the middle of the meeting, Mr Nyika came and told me that Chief Nhema wanted to see me outside. I went there and the Chief started to verbally assault me questioning why I had asked why his wife was present in the meeting. He then asked if the money she was going to get (allowances) was from my pocket or council’s. A lot was said and this happened in the presence of Finance Chair.
“What hurts me most is that I am not the one who raised the issue of why the Finance Chair (Nhema’s wife) was in the meeting. This issue was asked by a fellow councilor who is also a member of the HR & Admin committee. I was scolded for something I didn’t do,” Chivore wrote in the group chat.
He went on to say he had nothing against the chief who he said he respected a lot and said he had no power to stop people from sitting in any meeting which they do not belong to get allowances
“I have got great respect for him and nothing negative for him at all. However, it’s not fair to be scolded for things that are not factual. It didn’t sit well with me, I was not happy, minutes are there to prove. I don’t have the powers to deny people council money. Whoever wants to sit in any committee meeting, let it be even without any formal invitation, I am still mourning my father and wasn’t expecting this. It’s too early guys. Let’s not work with rumors for us to prosper, let us be factual,” said Chivore.
However, the council chair responded and explained that the finance chair was invited for the meeting so that she gets the side of the HR committee to make it easier for the finance committee to deliberate on the recommendations made.
“Evening councilors, professionally this issue should be discussed in the HR where it happened. I didn’t hear about it earlier, I am only getting it in this group (WhatsApp), I think all those who read it may fail to get answers.
“In our last meeting we recommended that we need finance to assist in working out salary arrears and also to deal with the allowances issues together with the Finance committee since Finance deals with the budget of all committees. If the minutes have been read, that recommendation is there.
“Sometimes it’s embarrassing to appear like you came for sadza when in actual sense you have come to work. Point of correction Chitova we don’t come to get money from council but to work for our district. I am sorry for the verbal assault but she didn’t come on her own, she was invited.
“Mr Baye was the acting HR and was supposed to defend the position because we still need her (finance chair) to work out the salary issues which we said were urgent and the letter was directed to me and I also directed the issue to the HR chair and Finance Chair. I am sorry Mrs Nhema for the embarrassment. Chitova (Chivore) I don’t know what the Chief said because you were outside, I can only comment on things that happens inside the council. If he had been in the chambers I would have commented,” said Maregedze.
Cllr Gwese (Nhema’s wife) responded saying next time if she was to be invited she would have to send the invitation to Chivore to authenticate it before she complied.
“Maybe next time if I am asked to come for a meeting l will first seek approval from you sir, if it’s a letter or even a call I will record it so that I send it to you to tell me if it’s formal or not since you are a lawyer you know better than us,” she said.
Another councilor intervened and said the chief was not supposed to get involved in council issues and should only be dealt with by councilors.
“But Chief Nhema should not rush to rebuke councilors as if he is a councilor, let council issues be solved by councilors,” wrote the councilor.
The matter went on to escalate in the WhatsApp platform until the council chair requested to be made the group administrator before closing the group to allow only administrators to post.
The matter was however reported to the Zanu PF provincial disciplinary committee and the committee chair who is also the Provincial Party Chairperson Vice Trust Mugabe said the matter was yet to be heard.
“We have the case but they are yet to come for hearing so there is nothing to comment as it stands, we can only comment after hearing the case and the person responsible for giving comments is the provincial chair Cde Mavhenyengwa (Robson),” said Mugabe.
Efforts to get a comment from Mavhenyengwa were futile as he was not taking calls and sent a text message saying he was in parliament.
