MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-In a dramatic turn of events at the Midlands capital seat of power, Gweru City Council has officially written to the Police requesting for assistance to recover a council vehicle from the suspended acting Town Clerk Vakai Chikwekwe.
In a letter gleaned by this publication, the current acting Town Clerk, Samson Senkenhamo wrote to Gweru Central Police Station for help to recover a Nissan Navara Reg No AAE 5600 from Chikwekwe.
“Reference is made to the subject; The bearers; Mr. T.D.F Marerwa — Acting Chamber Secretary, Mr. K Mundondo — Transport Manager, Mr. M. Mahere — The Acting Chief Security Officer, Mr. A. Matsiwo — Acting Sergeant, Mr. B. Mambo — Constable, Ms. S. Ncube — Constable have been instructed by Gweru City Council to recover the above-mentioned vehicle from the Acting Town Clerk and substantive Chamber Secretary who was suspended from employment on 22nd February 2023,” reads part of the letter.
The local authority says the conditions of suspension clearly stated that Chikwekwe should return all Council property including the vehicle as a matter of urgency.
It says until now, the suspended acting Town Clerk has not returned the vehicle hence seeking the assistance of the police to recover it.
Impeccable sources at the Town House revealed that the suspended Chamber Secretary refused to surrender the vehicle arguing that in almost similar circumstances, Council gave a vehicle to former Engineer Robson Manatsa who resigned in the midst of audit findings alleging that he violated procurement regulations in purchasing a JCB backhoe loader that turned out to be second-hand, yet a new one had been paid for.
Whilst director of housing Shingirayi Tigere was fired on graft charges.
Chikwekwe has also challenged his employer’s decision to suspend him, adding that his suspension letter contradicts what is contained in the special Council resolution.
Chikwekwe was suspended following his arrest by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZAAC) for allegedly violating tender procedures resulting in companies like Sheasham, Casas and Wackdrive winning tenders to service Mkoba 21 and Randolph Phase 1 suburb stands unprocedurally.
He was remanded out of custody to March 17 on ZW$100 000 bail.
Chikwekwe was served with a suspension letter soon after his arrest for failure to coordinate, monitor and supervise all departments thereby resulting in employees working in silos and consequently affecting service delivery.
Council also stated that there was negligence of duty on his part which resulted in Council being prejudiced financially.
“There was gross incompetence on your part, and the Council is greatly concerned about your continuous failure in discharging your duties diligently as expected resulting in the Council failing to properly operate,” reads part of the suspension letter signed by the Mayor, Cllr Hamutendi Kombayi.
The letter further pointed out that Chikwekwe flouted or violated Public Procurement and Debt Management Act, and there was a continuous exhibition of inconsistency in the discharge of his duties.
However, Chikwekwe, through his lawyer Admire Rubaya of Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, hit back saying they are finding it difficult to explore legal options because of the contradictions in the two documents.
He said his client is just an employee with no power to award any tender, adding that it was a collective decision during a special Council meeting.
“Our client is concerned with clear selective amnesia on the part of the Council members relating to the memorandum of agreements for the servicing of Mkoba 21 and Randolph Phase 1 by Sheasham, Casas and Wackdrive. It should be noted that our client is just a council official who does not make decisions during council meetings,” wrote Rubaya.
He claimed that Chikwekwe’s arrest is an abuse of the criminal justice system by political players for political expedience as he had no role in the signing and awarding of the tenders as it was done by his predecessors.
Rubaya added that his client will approach the High Court on an urgent basis if a special committee of inquiry set against him is not disbanded as it is made up of people who were part of the tender awarding process.
