SYDNEY MUBAIWA
GOKWE-The Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe has ordered Gokwe Town Council management to reinstate its internal auditor Manasseh Mhlolo who was fired nine months ago.
Mhlolo was dismissed by the local authority over a US$80 cost the municipality incurred after damages to a council vehicle in an accident.
However, Garwe said the local authority should not waste the taxpayer’s money in trivial and petty cases, urging it to prioritise service delivery.
A letter in possession of The Midweek Watch from Garwe, directed the local authority to expedite and finalise all its pending labour issues and submit a report.
“Pursuant to the suspension and dismissal of the internal auditor by Gokwe Town Council on trivial grounds unworthy of such a penalty, I hereby, in terms of Section 313 of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15] direct council to immediately reinstate the internal auditor.
“Furthermore, I implore council to expedite and finalise all pending labour cases and submit a report.
“Council should forthwith cease such practices of misappropriating public funds on trivial labour cases which are never won whilst service delivery crumble,” reads part of the letter.
Mhlolo won the case a month ago following a Labour Court ruling. However, upon attempting to resume his duties on May 20, 2025, he faced an unexpected resistance from the local authority’s Acting Town Secretary Engineer Melsen Masukume and has been working from the foyer for nearly a month.
Mhlolo ‘s case created sharp divisions within council after the local authority spent more than US$ 15 000 for a disciplinary hearing committee constituted by people drawn from two other councils, Gweru City Council and Vungu Rural District Council, some 200km away.
Close sources said Mhlolo’s dismissal was a ploy to silence investigations into financial irregularities within the local authority.
Gokwe Town Council is under fire from residents as it is struggling to provide meaningful service to ratepayers and paying its workers.
