THE fight for control of Chitungwiza head office has taken
a new twist following the announcement by the mayor, Lovemore Maiko, that
corruption charges have been filed to the police against two senior managers
who are on suspension pending findings of a disciplinary hearing.
Maiko made this announcement on Wednesday while addressing
a meeting called by stakeholders in the town who had sought clarification on
corruption issues raised in the recent audit report.
The residents’ representatives said they were also worried
about the deteriorating service delivery in the graft-ridden town.
The corruption charges have been laid against town clerk
George Makunde and human resources manager Mary Mukonyora, following corruption
allegations contained in the internal audit report.
The mayor, who assumed office in May last year, together
with suspended senior managers, housing director Hazel Sithole and engineer
David Duma, also faced corruption allegations that were filed at the police
before Makunde was suspended.
At the meeting, Maiko added that the internal audit report
would be followed by a forensic audit aimed at curbing the scourge of
corruption at the municipality.
“There have been anomalies within the council, that’s why
we came up with the idea of the audit.” It was not made clear at the meeting which period the
forensic audit would cover.
The contentious internal audit, covering the period 2013 to
October 2019, alleged that Makunde was receiving monthly rental allowances
despite staying in a council-owned house in Hatfield, Harare.
The report also said the town clerk’s utility bills were
footed by council contrary to his signed contract.
Human resources manager, Mukonyora also allegedly falsified
her official status and awarded herself lucrative benefits, including an acting
allowance for a non-existent post.
However, Makunde has rubbished the allegations contained in
the report alleging that the auditor was a bitter man who had an axe to grind
following his refusal to appoint him to the post of internal auditor without
following due procedure.
“Why is he afraid of undergoing interviews?” Makunde
charged.
He said the audit was a hatchet job meant to influence the
outcome of the ongoing disciplinary hearings against him and Mukonyora.
“The auditor is bitter and feels it’s prudent to soil the
image of the head of human resources and the town clerk.
“My salary was approved by the minister as $12 500 all
inclusive, housing allowance is $2 500 which was automatically removed from
what was due to me because I was allocated a council house
“The rent which is being referred to by the report is paid
from my salary which is good as me going to the bank after receiving my pay and
make a deposit into my landlord’s account.
“I actually gave the finance department a formal
instruction to effect monthly deductions from my own salary and pay into the
landlord’s account for convenience, not that the council is paying me double,
no”
He added that the issue of school fees was part of his
conditions of service which was signed by both parties, and for a third party
coming to debate that in the media was frivolous.
Meanwhile, Chitungwiza Residents’ Association director
Alice Kuvheya implored the city fathers to improve their communication with
residents’ leaders on developments at town house, rather than expecting
residents to get information through social media. Standard
0 comments:
Post a Comment