Bulilima Rural District Council internal auditor’s hearing postponed again

THE disciplinary hearing against suspended Bulilima Rural District Council internal auditor, Mr Israel Moyo failed to place for the second time after he produced another sick letter from the doctor, which declared him unfit to stand trial.

Mr Moyo who is facing fraud, wilful disobedience to a lawful order and act of misconduct charges was initially set to appear before the disciplinary committee on April 14.

He sent a doctor’s letter to the council, which ruled him unfit for eight days, the period which covered the remaining days of his suspension.

The matter was then postponed to Friday last week, but it could not proceed again after Mr Moyo produced another sick note.

Bulilima RDC council chairperson, Mr Lands Ndebele confirmed the latest development.

“The committee was ready to proceed, but before they started, they asked if he had recovered from his sickness. He then told them that he was unwell although he had forgotten his sick note in Bulawayo.

“The committee adjourned to enable him to go and fetch it but instead, he brought a new letter from a doctor in Plumtree,” he said.

Clr Ndebele said the matter was then postponed to May 6.

“We hope this time we will be in a better position to finish the process and if not, we will seek legal advice on how to proceed.”

Mr Moyo was suspended after a three-member commission set up by the council produced a damming report against him.

The commission was chaired by Ms Omnia Ndlovu from the Public Service Commission with Mr Onesimo Zogara, the District Development Co-ordinator and Ward Two councillor, Ambassador Mabhedi Ngulani being other members.

Mr Moyo was investigated over four allegations in which the commission found that he breached the law.

On the first charge, Mr Moyo is accused of increasing his six-month International Public Sector Accounting Standards (Ipsas) studies without council approval.

Mr Moyo is accused of “manipulating the wording of the minutes as he was Secretary to the Ipsas Committee,” to increase the training period.

On the second charge, Mr Moyo is said to have reduced a debt for a businessman from R132 000 to R48 000 .

The Board of Inquiry concluded that Mr Moyo’s reduction of Mr Khumalo’s debt from R132 000 to R48 000 was unilateral, unauthorised, potentially fraudulent and an abuse of his (Moyo’s) office in Council.

The third charge is related to the construction of his shop without following council procedure.

On the fourth charge, Mr Moyo was found to have interferred with the council-appointed Safari Operator, which resulted in the council losing value for its money and causing friction with the operator. —— @themkhust