Aleck Ncube claims his troubles started when the Innovation
Hub purchased a twin cab motor vehicle last year, which he has since been using
after obtaining authority to drive it.
The permission to drive the vehicle was granted in May 2020
by the Vice Chancellor, Dr Mqhele Dlodlo and pro-Vice Chancellor, Dr Peter
Nkala, who now claims he has no authority to use the car.
Ncube alleges that Dr Nkala, who is responsible for the
NUST Innovation and Business Development division, is unhappy with him for
using the twin cab and instigated an “arbitrary” suspension against him, where
three reasons were cited.
“These reasons are, one, driving the vehicle without
necessary approval. Two, disobeying an order by the Acting pro-Vice Chancellor
to give the vehicle to one of the staffers. This is an illegal order because
the Acting pro-Vice Chancellor is not responsible for transport in the
university.
“Three, I was accused of being absent from work for five
days without official leave yet I was working from home and I have the proof of
the work that I did during that period. I even attended an online meeting that
was chaired by the pro-Vice Chancellor,” he alleged in an interview with CITE.
Ncube said he refused to sign the suspension letter because
no investigations were done and his side of the story was not listened to so he
continued reporting for duty.
“I went to my superior, the Vice Chancellor who said I must
do as the letter says and face the music, while waiting for the university
investigations. I then escalated the matter to the Ministry of Higher and
Tertiary Education and my lawyer who said that I should report to work because
the suspension was null, void and lot legal at law,” he said.
The acting director further alleges that his suspension was
a case of victimisation as he has done a lot at the Innovation Hub, which is
now producing sanitisers and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the
Covid-19 fight.
“It is from the proceeds of sale of sanitisers and PPE that
we managed to buy a seven tonne truck and a twin cab vehicle, which the Acting
pro-Vice Chancellor wants to control yet the car runs the Hub’s project. The
delivery of our twin cab vehicle was in March, which has caused this suspension
as I am accused of using it without ‘university authority.’ This is jealousy
over the fact that the twin cab is under my custody as the Acting Director of
the Innovation Hub,” he claimed.
Ncube also added that ever since he was appointed to the
Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) as a commissioner, there are some NUST staffers
who are unhappy with his appointment.
“I am a ZMC commissioner, a position which entails me to
attend meetings and activities as a National Duty calling. I then realised that
there are attempts to push me out on frivolous charges yet I have given my all
as the Acting Director of the NUST Innovation Hub. Since May 1, 2018, I have
been working hard for NUST in various capacities and my suspension is a clear
sign of abuse of office,” alleged the acting director.
Contacted for comment, NUST Acting Director of
Communication and Marketing, Thabani Mpofu, said this was an internal matter
that would be resolved likewise.
“As far as we are concerned, this is an internal issue and
would be solved internally. These are sensitive issues and we don’t discuss
internal matters through the public or media. As I am talking, Ncube is at
work, doing his duties as normal. There is no suspension to talk of,” he said.
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