Council appoints 3 directors

Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
Harare City Council has appointed three substantive directors whose names were approved by the Local Government Board, with finance controller Mr Tendai Kwenda being appointed the new finance director. Mr Kwenda had been acting in that position since the departure of Mr Justin Mandizha last year. Harare water distribution manager Engineer Hosiah Chisango has been appointed water director, taking over from Eng Christopher Zvobgo, who retired last year.

Marondera housing director Mr Edmore Nhekairo was appointed housing director, pipping acting housing director Major Matthew Marara (Retired), who was tipped for the position after emerging the winner during interviews carried out by council. The Local Government Board has put the three new directors on a three month probation, but council argues it should be allowed to monitor them.

“We have agreed with the candidates approved by the Local Government Board, but council is of the opinion that it should monitor the three since they work with council,” said a councillor in the Human Resources and General Purposes Committee.

“How is the Local Government Board going to monitor them while on probation.”

The councillor said he could not disclose more details as the full council was still to deliberate on the matter. Harare submitted three names to the Local Government Board on each position, which interviewed each one of them. Many key positions at Harare City Council were being manned by people in an acting capacity, which local government experts and residents believed was impacting negatively on service delivery, as acting officials shy away from making critical decisions and spend more time jostling for posts.

Only three out of seven directors were permanent while several managers are also acting.

Mrs Josephine Ncube has been acting town clerk since the departure of Dr Tendai Mahachi last year, while Mr Charles Kandemiri has been acting chamber secretary. Director of Works Eng Phillip Pfukwa, health director Dr Prosper Chonzi and Dr Cainos Chingombe (human capital) were the only substantive directors.