BULAWAYO City Council Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube is
still locked out of his office from where he was violently ejected by Deputy
Mayor Councillor Tinashe Kambarami and his sidekick last Thursday.
Mr Dube was removed from his office by Clr Kambarami
working closely with Ward Four Clr Silas Chigora as they claimed that they were
suspending him from work over a number of allegations including abuse of
office.
However, on Friday, Bulawayo Mayor Solomon Mguni, who was
away on study leave, lifted the alleged suspension. Mr Dube yesterday said the
Deputy Mayor is yet to deliver his office keys.
“I have not stopped my duties but he (Clr Kambarami) is
still refusing to open the office. The Mayor is back in office so I’m leaving
everything in his hands,” he said.
Mr Dube said he would only be able to speak on the
obtaining issues after legal matters have been dealt with but was humbled by
solidarity messages he got from the public.
He filed assault charges against Clr Kambarami and Clr
Chigora leading to the duo’s arrest on Friday. The two appeared in court on Saturday and were granted $100
bail each.
Clr Mguni said he was still waiting for Clr Kambarami to
act as he was directed.
“The Town Clerk is at work. His office keys are with the
Deputy Mayor. I am also waiting for the Deputy Mayor to hand over the
case to me. We are handling the matter amicably. You will be advised of
the outcome in due course.
It’s just that I have not yet met with the Deputy Mayor so
that he briefs me on what happened during my absence. I am sure it’s not his intention not to return the keys.
Maybe he is busy somewhere,” he said.
Clr Mguni said the BCC regrets Thursday’s developments but
did not guarantee that similar incidents would not recur.
“I may not make assurances about the future, but we want to
apologise to the residents of Bulawayo on the unfortunate incidences of
Thursday and Friday. We could have handled the situation better than we did,”
he said.
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association co-ordinator Mr
Emmanuel Ndlovu said it was tragic that Clr Kambarami was personalising the
Town Clerk’s issue.
“From the onset this suspension of the Town Clerk was a
sham, it was done unprocedurally.
The Deputy Mayor should not use his emotions on this case.
He seems to have personalised the case instead of addressing it on its merits.
This has a far reaching bearing on service delivery as well as the merits and
demerits of the case,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said residents would engage the Chamber Secretary Mrs
Sikhangele Zhou and Clr Mguni to explain the developments at City Hall.
Mr Ndlovu said what transpired last week erodes public
confidence in councillors and council management hence they need to handle the
matter properly.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing
Minister Cde July Moyo on Friday said Mr Dube’s treatment was unfortunate.
He said certain procedures have to be followed before Mr
Dube takes over his office as some of his office documents might have been
removed from it.
Mr Dube has reportedly resisted the meddlesome conduct of
MDC Alliance councillors who are interfering in the local authority’s
operations.
The councillors are said to be miffed especially by the
Town Clerk’s refusal to let them interfere in the distribution of the $5
million ward retention fund, procurement processes and the employment of
community groups and control of the subcommittee on allocation of stands and
premises. Chronicle
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