A TEAM that the Government commissioned to investigate allegations of corruption within the Victoria Falls City Council has completed its task and presented the report to the local authority for adoption by council.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works set up the investigation team in terms of Section 311(2) of the Urban Councils Act following allegations of corruption against Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube by Mayor, Councillor Somvelo Dlamini, and the Combined Victoria Falls Residents Association (Vifacora).
Some of the allegations, Chronicle learnt, include unprocedural allocation of land without council resolution, leasing of the council brewery, sale of stand number 8300, loan of US$84 000, incompetence and failure to supervise staff.
Contents of the report and findings have not been made public although it is understood it has more than 20 recommendations that the local authority should attend to.
Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Marian Chombo presented the report in a closed door special council meeting yesterday and could not be drawn to comment afterwards.
Members of the public and the media were chucked out of the council boardroom before presentation of the report, following recommendations by the house that the report was to go through committee stage before being made public.
The meeting was full of drama as opposition Citizens Coalition for Change councillors, who dominate the council, objected on Clr Dlamini chairing proceedings because he has a pending criminal court case where he is accused of corruption.
Clr Dlamini was arrested by a Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (Zacc) crack team in October 2022 on allegations of corruption involving a housing stand and is out on bail pending trial.
He sat on the mayoral chair to lead proceedings yesterday and councillors were divided over his presence with some saying it was prejudicial for him to do so and also in violation of a Government directive that public officers facing criminal charges must not continue with their duties until finalisation of their cases.
Clr Prince Thuso Moyo raised the query and others seconded, and Clr Tonderai Mutasa (Zanu-PF) resultantly chaired the meeting following a proposal by Clr Netsai Shoko. Clr Dlamini sat in the gallery.
Earlier, Clr Dlamini had an exchange of words with Town Clerk Mr Dube who told the house that he was concerned that the mayor had been visiting council offices and collecting some documents from his office and at some point asked him about the pending court case.
According to Clr Dlamini’s bail conditions, he should not to interfere with witnesses and evidence.
After the meeting, Mr Dube said: “The Deputy Minister presented a report on their findings to council, and the findings are yet to be deliberated on by council. So for now it is business as usual.”
Clr Dlamini said he recused himself from chairing the meeting for ethical reasons as he is an interested party.
“I would like to thank the Ministry for playing a supervisory role on councils. They came today and presented a report after a committee of inquiry was set by the Minister to come and investigate the Town Clerk and they came up with 25 recommendations.
“The President is clear on the fight against corruption and as a local authority we cannot fold our hands when public funds are being abused,” said Clr Dlamini.
He said the council is going to convene a special full council on the issue.
Residents have called for the report to be made public so that they can be involved in fighting corruption.
Source: Victoria Falls council probe team completes investigations (04/01/2023)
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