Residents are accusing council chairperson Councillor
Christopher Karimazondo of conniving with management led by acting chief
executive Mr Samson Zulu to milk the local authority dry.
Acting chief executive Mr Zulu admitted to some anomalies. “We
have an old fleet that is being services at a local garage, which might not be
the right place, but our new vehicles are serviced at proper garages. Just two
weeks ago, our Toyota Land Cruiser was at Mike Harris Toyota for a major
service,” he said.
However, council chairperson Mr Nhidza could not be reached
for a comment as his mobile number was unreachable.
In an interview, Mutoko Residents Association chairperson
Mr Stanford Maguma yesterday said the residents were disturbed by the rate of
nepotism.
“Council is losing a lot of money due to corruption where
the council is deliberately sending council machinery and cars for service at
unauthorised backyard garages, against laid down tender procedures.
“Mr Zulu is personally conniving with one Mr Peter Ranganai
a local unqualified mechanic to provide service and overcharge the council in a
deal the duo is sharing the profits,” he alleged.
Independent investigations done by The Herald showed
that despite the council having a fully qualified mechanic it preferred the
services of Mr Ranganai an artisanal mechanic who holds no qualification in
motor mechanics.
Our news crew observed one of the council vehicles, a white
Toyota Isuzu registration number AAE 9013 being repaired at the backyard workshop.
The laid procedure is that council vehicles are repaired and serviced at
reputable garages.
Mr Maguma also accused council of awarding, without going
to tender, the maintenance of Oliver Newton Road to ward 20 councillor Robert
Jembere.
He said Clr Jembere then proceeded to hand-pick relatives
to do the road maintenance works while the shoddy job was being supervised by
unqualified people.
Contacted, Clr Jembere denied any wrongdoing in being
awarded the tender and said the recruitment of the workforce that did the job
was Mr Zulu’s responsibility.
“I am not aware of what you are talking about. You can ask
Mr Zulu because he is the one who is responsible for hiring employees,” he
said. But Mr Zulu responded: “Surely, what qualifications are required in
patching up gravel roads?”
A council employee who pleaded for anonymity for fear of
victimisation also told The Herald that there was tangible evidence which
pointed to corrupt activities within the council under the watch of chairperson
Karimazondo.
The employee raised an eyebrow in the promotion of one
Zephania Nhidza who has been the head of various departments including for
human resources and social services ahead of better qualified people.
“Nhidza is involved in a double dipping scandal where he
earns salaries from both the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the council,
but nothing is being done about it.”
“Council also employed a holder of a diploma as planning
technician yet the council has a full time qualified engineer. The unqualified
planning technician is the one illegally allocating stands in connivance with
the officials and sharing the spoils.”
Mr Zulu responded: “Nhidza’s post as Executive Officer (EO)
Health is grant-aided by Government and he will retire soon.” Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment