Livingstone Mtetwa
CHIPINGE-Embattled town council secretary Susan Dube was on September 29 found not guilty by a Chipinge magistrate on two counts of criminal abuse of office charges she was facing.
Dube, who appeared before Chipinge Magistrate Court on Thursday saw Jeffrey Mwakachiyeyi, another council worker, a water superintendent jointly charged with her in one of the cases being acquitted as well.
In giving judgment Magistrate Frankly Mkwananzi maintained that the accusations against Dube were unsubstantial, hence the acquittal.
In the first count, Dube was accused of illegally offering a residential stand to an intern at the institution.
However, Mkwananzi noted that the local authority’s policy was not clear and open to a multiplicity of interpretations as it spelt out that all employees are entitled to benefits.
“The condition of service says all and the key word there is “all”. Therefore, the intern is an employee of town council. The housing policy of council says permanent workers and does not in any way exclude non-permanent workers. As such, the intern was entitled to benefit a stand because he or she spent two years on industrial attachment,” said Mkwananzi.
On the second count, Dube allegedly took PVC pipes worth US$639 from her employer for personal use at her Kenilworth Farm.
In his ruling, Mkwananzi said proper procedure was followed as she paid the water connection fee and presented a proof of payment.
Prosecutor Thulani Zondwayo stood for the state.
Dube was arrested sometime in February by ZACC (Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission) officials on accusations of corruption.
