Kasukuwere
Beatific Gumbwanda /
Elliot Jinjika
28 April 2017, CHIREDZI – Residents organisations in Chiredzi and Chivhu have criticised Local Government Minister, Savior Kasukuwere of ignoring what they call the rot in the Chiredzi Town Council and Chikomba Rural District Council while ruthlessly descending on all MDC-T dominated councils in the country.
At the centre of the grievances in Chiredzi is the minister’s alleged failure to take action against council despite many irregularities having been unearthed by a ministerial audit team.
When the audit team visited last year, it discovered that councillors had irregularly shared amongst themselves 40 residential stands that they latter resold to third parties at inflated prices.
The team also found that council chairperson; Francis Moyo had been involved in an accident while driving a car he was not supposed to drive.
He allegedly went on to make a false report saying the car was being driven by a council driver.
In Chivhu, Collen Zvarevashe of the Chivhu Residents and Ratepayers Alliance said his organisation was aware of nepotism cases where close relatives of the Chikomba council management had found their way onto the council payroll as ‘interns’.
“There is a lot of corruption and nepotism in our council but it is being ignored. Council offices at Sadza and here in Chivhu have accommodated people who have been employed as interns yet they are not studying. What sort of work-related learning will make one stay at his workplace for more than a year?” queried Zvarevashe.
Chikomba RDC chairperson, Pardon Mudzimu, however, dismissed all allegations of malpractice at the council, saying everything was being properly done.
“There is nothing of that sort at the council. I don’t know about that, ask even the CEO or the HR (manager), they can testify,” said Mudzimu.
He took a swipe at the media for tarnishing the image of council through negative reporting.
Council HR manager, Bullen Chiwara, however, refused to comment, saying only the council CEO and chairperson were allowed to speak to the media.
In Chiredzi, the United Chiredzi Residents and Rate Payers Association secretary general, Bernard Dhachi told TellZim News residents were not happy that Kasukuwere was ignoring the rot while haunting MDC-T councils, the latest being Gweru where he fired Mayor Hamutendi Kombayi.
“There is no accountability in council and corruption cases are being ignored. The minster should come and end the rot in the council with the same vigour with which he is pursuing councils being run by the opposition.
Chiredzi Residents and Rate Payers Association (CHIRRA) chairperson, Jonathan Muusha said they suspect that the minister was keeping his silence because he was benefitting from the rot.
“The investigation team indicated that the accident saga was supposed to be made a police case but nothing has been,” said Muusha.
When contacted for comment, Kasukuwere said he was still working on the report.
“I have just received the report and soon after I finished perusing it, I will give recommendations for the benefit of the people,” said Kasukuwere.politics
