EDWIN MOYO
Gweru- Furious Gweru City councilors have ordered management to immediately recover a council service vehicle which was taken by the suspended Town Clerk, Vakayi Chikwekwe in February.
The decision was passed today, during a full council meeting held at the Civic Centre.
Chikwekwe is accused of stealing a brand new Nissan Navara service vehicle on the 22nd of February 2023 after he was suspended from council on charges of abuse of office and flouting of tenders procedures.
His actions allegedly resulted in undeserving companies like Sheasham, Casas and Wackdrive winning tenders to service Mkoba 21 and Randolph Phase 1 suburb stands.
It is said earlier this month council management tried to recover the vehicle form his residence, but they failed to locate him with reports saying he has fled to Gokwe.
Gweru Mayor Hamutendi Kombayi said, management was sleeping of duty as Chikwekwe’s actions were tantamount to stealing from the residents.
“What the suspended Town Clerk did was theft, we passed a resolution to suspend him without pay and we did so as council, why can’t modalities be put in place to recover that car since February 2023.
“To date nothing has been done and we don’t even have an RRB number from the Police and Anti-Corruption Commission case number, what’s happening from management’s side.
“At this moment let me call upon the Chamber Secretary and the Human Resource manager to go to the police and report accordingly, we want proper documentation, we want the RRB number from police and the Anti-Corruption case number to be presented before this meeting ends,” said a furious Kombayi.
Ward 11 Councillor, Albert Chirau said, it was disturbing to note that residents’ money was being abused by the suspended town clerk.
“Mr Chikwekwe must surrender that vehicle immediately, it’s a service delivery vehicle, what he did is unlawful, it’s an act of theft, no resolution was given to award him a car.
“A normal cannot steal residents property and make it your own. Is management afraid to confront Chikwekwe through the law. Probably the vehicle is in Gokwe and being used to appease ancestors , by the time we recover it would be won out,” Chirau said.
Ward 15 Councillor, Trust Chineni said he was surprised in the council management’s hypocrisy as it swiftly acted on former mayor, Josiah Makombe’ s mayoral car.
“When Councillor Makombe , the then Mayor was recalled sometime in 2021 he took a council vehicle with him as his benefits. After a few days council acted against him and members of the Joint Operation Command ( JOC) were deployed and they arrested him and the vehicle was recovered. Why can’t the same be done here.
“The way management liaised with JOC to seize the mayor’s car and arrest Makombe should be done to Chikwekwe, we want our car back now.” he added.
However, Gweru council Acting Town Clerk, Livingstone Churu said, “we approached the Police your worship but they advised us the case was not theft but rather it qualified as a worker and employee dispute,” he said.
Last month Chikwekwe challenged his suspension at the courts saying his suspension letter contradicted with the special council resolution.
Chikwekwe has since appeared before the courts and was released on ZW$100 000 bail.
Meanwhile, councilors have since ordered the local authority’s transport department to present the vehicle’s milage record and all documentation for further scrutiny.
