Chinhoyi treasurer suspended for fraud

of defrauding council of US$71 433.
He also faces allegations of gross negligence after he failed to bank cheques worth US$79 629,68.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development secretary Mr Killian Mpingo instructed Mashonaland West provincial administrator Mr Christopher Shumba to cause the suspension of Mr Mandinde following a damning financial report in the recently concluded audit.
Mr Shumba would communicate with Chinhoyi town clerk Mr Ezekiel Muringani who wrote and dispatched the letter yesterday.
The same audit also found Mr Muringani and chamber secretary Mr Abel Gotora in breach of proper financial management. No action has been taken against the two yet.
Mr Muringani or anyone acting in his capacity can suspend Mr Gotora while only the Mayor Mr Claudius Zezayi Nyamhondoro can suspend the town clerk as provided in the Urban Councils’ Act.
“Pursuant to the investigations of Chinhoyi Municipality and the financial management audit held from 14 February 2011 to 7 March 2011 it is clear that the town treasurer has serious cases of financial mismanagement and abuse of public funds.
“The case of the treasurer makes it imperative that he be suspended with immediate effect and I advise you to relate with the town clerk and facilitate the immediate suspension of the Chinhoyi Municipality treasurer,” said Mr Mpingo.
According to the audit investigation report, there is rampant misuse of funds and laxity in handling records.
The audit showed that Mr Mandinde took US$71 433 cash from the council main collecting point without signing for it between February 24 2009 to October 25 2010. Between August 13 2010 to December 17 2010 he stopped banking of cheques amounting to US$79 629,68.
He was given US$7 100 for a stand but only accounted for US$2 720 while US$4 650, which was given to a number of individuals could not be accounted for. The report also fingers Mr Muringani who allegedly took US$4 150 from the council without signing for it while Mr Gotora allegedly took US$1 900 also without signing for the cash.
“Despite the fact that both the town clerk and financial director were on full medical aid, they claimed total sums of US$12 535 and US$2020 respectively as medical assistance,” says part of the audit report. Chinhoyi also opted to sponsor football, pool and darts clubs at a time its financial position was precarious. The audit report recommended that the three should be reported to police for further investigation and that Mr Mandinde should refund the money.
In the past corrupt municipal managers and councillors were only dismissed from office and no further action was taken creating an impression that one could always get away with theft of public funds.