Chombo defies parliament, reinstates Chegutu councilors

Chombo defies parliament, reinstates Chegutu councilors

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By Lebo Nkatazo

LOCAL Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo, has reinstated 10 Zanu PF Chegutu councilors more than a year after they were suspended on corruption allegations.

Chombo said the 10, who form part of the ruling party dominated council, headed by a lone MDC member, mayor Francis Dhlakama, have to come back to work since time for their suspension has lapsed with no charges having been preferred against them by the police.

Only one ruling party councilor, Wellington Macheka, out the 11 Zanu PF councilors, has been convicted and would not be reinstated, Chombo said.

Chombo suspended the councilors in May last year after an audit team he appointed unearthed rampant corruption that included favoritism in the allocation of stands, abuse of council funds, and mismanagement, among other things.

Chombo’s decision goes against the audit team recommendations that all the councilors be fired for corruption. Apart from a damming report by Chombo’s audit team last year, the fourth report of the Sixth Parliament of Zimbabwe’s Portfolio Committee on Local Government also recommended the sacking of the ruling party members and the jailing of deputy mayor, Phenias Mariyapera.

Mariyapera was accused of muzzling the municipality and interfering in its affairs therefore hindering the operations of the executive.

He was also pinpointed in the disappearance of about $150 million from council’s drying coffers by placing his disciples in key strategic positions in the finance and recruiting departments whom he would then manipulate.

The committee blamed some of the rot on Zanu PF factionalism which it said was making Chegutu “ungovernable”.

Read the committee’s report: “Your committee was highly disturbed by the effects of Zanu PF factionalism that existed in the town. While your committee recognises that factionalism was normal and progressive, it was disturbed by the damage it has done to Chegutu town.”

The report said some of the effects of the factionalism were that a “youthful mafia” was resorting to extensive damage of council property such as blocking water and sewer pipes in order to discredit others.
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