adminon allegations of misconduct.
Clr James yesterday confirmed the suspension but said he was seeking legal advice on the matter.Minister Chombo has since appointed a four-member team to probe the mayor.
In a letter to Clr James, Minister Chombo said: “Having cautioned you in a letter of Remedial Intervention dated 3 March 2011, reports of misconduct continue to come to my office implying that you are unrepentant. This leaves me with no option other than to invoke section 114 of the Urban Councils Act (chapter 29:15) to suspend you from being a councillor (Ward 12) Mutare City, with immediate effect.”
During the period of suspension, Mayor James shall not conduct any council business and will not receive any form of remuneration.
Minister Chombo said the suspension of Mayor James “was in the interest of ensuring a sound local governance for effective and efficient service delivery in Mutare City”.
The minister then appointed Masvingo provincial administrator Mr Felix Chikovo as chairman of a probe team expected to ascertain allegations levelled against the mayor.
Others members of the investigation team are Mr G Madzimure (deputy director traditional leaders support services), Mr J Chauke (Accountant Financial Advisory section), Fortune Mutete (banker) and Mr A Magumise (Rural Local Authorities).
The investigation team is expected to validate the misconduct charges levelled against Mayor James by councillors and management, to establish the extent of his interference in management matters or executive duties of council.
The team is also expected to determine the extent of damage caused to council by his divisive leadership style and the impact on service delivery.
It is also expected to consider his suitability to remain in office as councillor given his reluctance to sign the 2012 budget to allow council to collect revenue for service delivery.
The investigators will submit to Minister Chombo within 14 days of their appointment a report on their findings.
Information gathered by The Herald indicates that Mayor James is being accused of misappropriating council funds amounting to $4 000. The mayor, it is alleged, sought legal advice on a personal matter but used council funds to foot the bill. It is further alleged that Mayor James hired a South African company KV3 to help craft the Mutare City Budget at a cost of $48 000.
The unilateral decision was highly contested by councillors forcing him to temporary quit his job for four months in protest.
In blocking attempts by Mayor James to rope in KV3, councillors argued that the city had no money to foot the consultation fee.
Councillors made it clear there were abundant local skills able to craft the budget.
“When his efforts to bring in the Johannesburg based KV3 to craft the budget he quit accusing councillors of defying his directives. He later came back but refused to sign the budget that had been compiled by council in his absence” a source said.
Mayor James only signed the budget after the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development in Harare had summoned him.
Contacted for a comment yesterday, Mayor James said: “Yes, I have been suspended on allegations of misconduct. I am seeking legal advice.”
On hiring a South African company to help craft the city budget, Mayor James claimed it was a council resolution to rope in KV3.
“Council resolved to employ them but later resolved to shelve the idea,” he said.
Online Reporter