SYDNEY MUBAIWA
GOKWE- Gokwe Town Council has appointed Chief Administrator Alexander Nyandoro as its acting town secretary with immediate effect.
The development follows a directive from the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe who ordered the immediate removal of Engineer Melsen Masukume amid mounting concerns over service delivery rot.
Gokwe Town Council Chairperson, Councillor Licious Mutegwe confirmed Nyandoro’s appointment in a telephone interview with The Midweek Watch.
“Yes I can confirm that we now have Alexander Nyandoro as the new Town Secretary for Gokwe. He was appointed last week on Friday,” he said.
Nyandoro held the same position in 2021 before stepping down, relinquishing the post to the late finance director Joconia Nyoni who assumed the role on December 1, 2023.
Following the minister’s report, Masukume resigned from all council posts.
“This decision has been made following serious concerns regarding maladministration and poor governance throughout his acting tenure, resulting in severe costs while service delivery crumbled,” reads part of the report.
During a full council meeting held last week on Friday morning, Gokwe councillors felt Nyandoro, as the best candidate for the post, citing his extensive knowledge of council administration and his proven capacity to handle the responsibilities of the role effectively.
Gokwe residents have long voiced frustration over the local authority’s inefficiencies, particularly in the mishandling of council vehicles.
A notable incident involved a Chevrolet vehicle that was extensively damaged in an accident in Bulawayo, with the matter unresolved fueling public discontent and calls for accountability.
Residents have expressed their gratitude for Minister Garwe’s decisive action, pointing to a troubling pattern of corruption and ineffective management within the council. One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, remarked, “We are very happy with this development. Poor service delivery has been painfully prevalent, and we can’t continue like this. There are high-profile corruption issues involving top council officials.”
“The appointment of Nyandoro is a crucial step towards stabilizing the council’s administration, as he is recognized for his experience in public governance,” he said.
In the report, Minister Garwe highlighted the importance of effective leadership, emphasizing that the new incumbent “should have the capacity and capability to execute the functions ascribed to the office of the town secretary, specifically for proper administration and good governance of the council.”
As the local authority undergoes these significant changes, residents remain cautiously optimistic about the future of service delivery in Gokwe. They hope that these new appointments will usher in an era of improved governance and revitalized community services, potentially redefining the relationship between Gokwe’s residents and their local government.
