SYDNEY MUBAIWA
BIKITA-The fight to oppose the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Bikita Rural District Council has reached another level with Bikita residents expressing disappointment over the arrest of Council Chairperson Thomas Mataga by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) last week.
Mataga who is also Ward 31 Councillor was arrested by ZACC for allegedly defying a ministerial directive with regards to the appointment of Archibald Ncube as the new CEO for Bikita RDC.
In an interview, Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association Secretary General Brilliant Mukaro said the incarceration of the chairperson who is advocating for justice is unacceptable.
“As Bikita residents, we support our council chairperson and we will stand in solidarity with him.
“We believe his arrest is political and we will write a petition to Parliament and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works expressing our grievances.
“We will mobilise residents so that they also stand in solidarity with our leaders who are victimised and oppressed for expressing justice,” he said.
He said the appointment of Ncube as a CEO was not on merit but a political motive.
“We believe that his appointment was not based on merit. It’s politics at play and it’s totally unacceptable,” he said.
Contacted for a comment, Bikita District Development Coordinator Benard Hadzirabwi refused to comment on the matter.
“Let’s wait for ZACC to do its job. This issue is before the courts and I cannot comment on it,” he said.
The fight for the post begun last year after council officials held a meeting to discuss the appointment of a new CEO following the death of Peter Chibi who committed suicide.
The post was then advertised and a number of candidates applied for it.
After the selection process, only three candidates were shortlisted for interviews and these included Archibald Ncube , Savory Chikomwe and Arnold Mtuke.
After the interviews, Mtuke emerged on first position and the recommendations were endorsed by a full council meeting. The results were forwarded to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for approval.
The Ministry however, appointed Ncube on 21 January, 2025 as the new CEO despite coming second during the interviews.
The appointment sparked criticism from Bikita residents and stakeholders questioning the ministry’s decision.
Mataga allegedly wrote a letter to the Minister objecting the appointment.
As a result, Mataga was charged with criminal abuse of office as defined in Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) Chapter 9:23 or refusing to obey the directive order from the Ministry as defined on Section 161 of the Rural District Councils Act Chapter 29:13.
Mataga’s charges of objecting government’s directive and it’s a punishable offence which attract a jail sentence of about six months.
Mataga is out of custody and he will be arraigned before the courts on Friday next week.
