… As feud between CEO, council chair rages on
By Richard Mukwenya
Zaka Rural District Council Chairperson Fungai Maregedze had to spend a night in police cells after she was nabbed by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday October 02 on several charges of criminal abuse of office.
Maregedze appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Elizabeth Hanzie who remanded her out of custody to November 05 after the complainant failed to show up for the initial appearance and her docket was yet to be transferred to Masvingo Court.
Prosecutor Ruvimbo Makoni said the state was applying for the transfer of her docket, which was also not available in court, from Harare.
Contacted for comment over the matter Zaka RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Majaura said he was not aware of Maregedze’s arrest.
However, sources said he was there when the incident took place and was advised to inform the Ministry of Local Government and Public works which he did through a letter which was later leaked to TellZim News.
The letter was addressed to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works dated Oct 02 and signed by Majaura.
“I write to notify your office that, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission team visited our offices on 01/10/2024 and interviewed management and some councilors including the council chairperson who was interviewed today 02/10/2024.
The ZACC team have just reported to me that they are arresting the council chairperson,” read the letter.
Maregedze has been at cross roads with the local authority CEO David Majaura.
The two have a record of accusing each other for undermining other’s authority.
Sources said a team from the parent ministry visited Zaka RDC and did own investigations where they recorded some anomalies on the part of the council chairperson.
The results were presented but the council chair refuted them resulting in another team being sent to the local authority this week. After completing the two day investigations, an arrest was made.
“A team from the ministry was assigned to do investigations at Zaka RDC and the results were presented to the council chair and CEO during a meeting where all council chairpersons and mayors as well as CEOs and town clerks were invited. That’s when the two were shown results which implicated Maregedze.
“She then disputed the results and went on to insult the minister accusing him of sending a biased investigating team and that is how the second team came and they established the same results resulting in Maregedze’s arrest,” said the source.
Other sources said the feud between her and Majaura emanated from the fact that her husband who is Zanu PF Zaka District Coordinating Committee Chairperson and Zaka South MP Clemence Chiduwa wanted control at the local authority and was using his wife to push a factional agenda.
Chiduwa influenced his wife, Maregedze’s entrance into council on women’s quota ticket and eventually became council chairperson ahead of elected councilors.
“She failed to yield desired results as Majaura refused to be bent and that’s how the plot to ouster him (Majaura) started. Initially they wanted to push for Zaka District Development Coordinator (DDC) Memory Dhliwayo to be CEO until someone whispered in Maregedze’s ear that she actually qualifies to be the CEO herself.
“So she is fighting for her own supper, Majaura’s ouster will give her a chance to be at the helm of one of the poorest local authorities in the Province,” said the source.
She went on to write letters to the parent Ministry complaining over clashes with Majaura whom she accused of hindering development in the district and blocking her and other councilors from executing their duties.
In one letter dated 20 May 2024, the council chair said since her council had assumed office in August last year, they had met several stumbling blocks in the execution of their work and was seeking guidance as the issues were affecting service delivery.
“I am humbly making this submission to you Hon Minister seeking relief and guidance on several issues that are impeding service delivery and having a direct negative bearing on service delivery and my performance contract as chairperson of Zaka RDC,” reads part of the letter.
She also said council management was misinforming the responsible ministry about councilor’s interference in order to avoid scrutiny and being held to account.
