Bindura mayor under fire

Herald Reporter
Bindura Mayor Tinashe Madamombe is under fire from his fellow MDC-T councillors over allegations of misappropriation of funds and harassing workers.
On Monday, six councillors petitioned Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo to look into the manner in which the mayor is running the council’s affairs.
Minister Chombo and Mashonaland Central Governor and Resident Minister Advocate Martin Dinha met all the councillors in Bindura on Monday.
“The purpose of the meeting was to verify that they did sign the petition and if so to map a way forward,” said Minister Chombo.
He said they would study the document and appoint an investigation team to determine if the mayor had a case to answer.
Councillors Ivory Matanhire, Elizabeth Mafio-si, Rindai Muchemwa, Norbert Dhokotera, Rickson Kaseke, Makesure Mafukidze and Washington Mudadi wrote and signed the petition.
“The proceedings which are happening at the council from the day the Mayor and the Acting Town Clerk took offices are uncalled for, there is gross misuse of council funds,” they allege.
“Mayor Madamombe is now working full time at council as if he is an executive.
“The mayor and the driver are misusing council vehicles. The two vehicles allocated to him – an Isuzu truck and Toyota Ipsum – are complete write-offs.”
Bindura Municipality is facing various problems and is saddled with debts totaling US$1,5 million. The council currently has more than 340 workers.
About 80 percent of revenue is spent on salaries while 20 percent goes to service delivery.
Government has said 70 percent of revenue should go to service provision and the remainder to staff costs.