Chitungwiza Municipal Council demoted its acting town clerk
Dr Tonderai Kasu last week after he declined to authorise free data lines and
bundles for councillors and for issuing a public statement listing
irregularities in the construction of a building on the stand allocated to
MDC-A deputy national chairman Job Sikhala in Zengeza 2.
He apparently refused to authorise the extra benefits for
councillors because these were not on the approved list of benefits.
He was repleced by finance director Mrs Evangelista
Machona. The demotion was made during a special council meeting held last
Thursday.
Well-placed sources said Dr Kasu was demoted on allegations
that he had opposed a demand by councillors to have data lines and monthly
bundles.
“Dr Kasu was pressured to sign a memo seeking authorisation
of councillors to be given data lines and five gigabyte data bundles on a
monthly basis, which are not included on the ministerial directive on the
prescribed benefits for councillors,” said a source.
Another source said councillors were unhappy with the way
he handled Sikhala’s stand issue after issuing public statements raising
concern over developments at the politician’s stand in Zengeza 2.
Dr Kasu refused to comment on the issue, referring all the
questions to the mayor.
But Chitungwiza mayor Lovemore Maiko said the decision was
taken to allow Dr Kasu to focus on his health portfolio following concerns over
the rise in Covid-19 cases in the town.
“There is a resolution that directors must rotate as acting
town clerk. However, in this case we were motivated to reassign him to his
portfolio due to the increased cases of Covid-19 in Chitungwiza,” he said.
“There was a gap which Dr Kasu needed to fill as a medical
doctor and make sure we contain the pandemic just like in Harare where the
health director, Dr Prosper Chonzi, is hands on.”
Clr Maiko dismissed allegations that Dr Kasu was being
victimised for writing orders against Sikhala’s stand in Zengeza 2 as that
decision was done collectively.
In terms of data bundles, he said they wrote a letter to
the parent ministry, Local Government and Public Works, and were given the
greenlight since they intended to conduct virtual meetings considering that
their chambers have limited space, which does not allow them to practice social
distancing. Herald
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