Melinda Kusemachibi
Masvingo Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Jefta Sakupwanya said his office would intervene in Bikita vehicle purchase ‘scam’ in a bid to ensure that sanity prevails over the matter.
Dr Sakupwanya acknowledged receiving a messenger from Bikita with the petition and promised his office would look into the matter.
“Yes l know the issue and a messenger was sent from Bikita to my office. We are going to investigate and look into what happened on the resolution by Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) to use council money purchasing seven vehicles and privatizing them,” said Dr Sakupwanya.
Bikita District Development Coordinator (DDC) Bernard Hadzirabwi said that he knows about the issue as he was called from the higher offices though physically the petition never reached his office.
“Yes l am aware of the issue because the offices of Ministry of Local Government called me telling me about it. I did not receive the petition but it was copied to the office of Minister of State and also to the office of Masvingo Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution,” said Hadzirabwi.
He said that he could not comment on the issue as it is now at the office of the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
“I cannot comment on the issue as it is already at the office of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo, he is the one to comment on the issue,” he added.
Sources at the RDC offices however said Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) recently deployed a team of four officials to interview some employees at the local authority though ZACC spokesperson, Commissioner John Makamure denied that.
“Yes it is true that on Wednesday (May 4) some four officials from ZACC came to Bikita RDC offices and had some interviews with some of the local authority’s employees concerning the purchase of such vehicles,” the source said.
Makamure said that they never deployed officials at RDC to investigate the matter.
“We are going to compile and check what happened but we did not send our team to Bikita and investigate the issue. If we want to do investigations, we do that to both urban and rural councils and Bikita is one of them,” Makamure said.
Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association (BIRRA) acting secretary Mark Mutengani however said he heard through the grape vine that ZACC descended on the RDC last week and that some officials from the local government ministry were set to visit on May 6 though the position was not officially communicated to them.
“Yes, I just heard that sometime this week on Wednesday (May 4), some officials from ZACC came for investigations with some circles reportedly saying officials from the parent ministry are around to carry out the investigations (on May 6) though I am yet to clarify on the actual situation obtaining,” said Mutengani.
BIRRA drafted a petition letter seeking redress and clarity over the move by the local authority which stands accused of going on a purchasing vehicle spree for top official.
The RDC purchased seven GD6 Toyota Hilux vehicles for Head of Departments before fixing yellow registration plates instead of the official black and white, a move that provoked residents alleging privatization of such properties.
