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Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Reporter
Former Harare City Council acting human resources manager Matthew Marara who resigned in 2020 has brewed a shocker saying he never resigned from the council insisting he is still a council employee.
Two years ago, Marara confirmed to this publication that he had resigned.
“Yes, it is true that I resigned last week.”
“I want to pursue my private business and further my academic studies,” he said on December 6, 2018.
The Herald can exclusively reveal that Marara has since backtracked on that position and insists that he is still a council employee.
Contacted yesterday Marara said: “Surely the issue of my employment is between me and my employer. Why should someone at my workplace want this matter to be dealt with in the public domain? That is unethical.”
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume and acting town clerk Engineer Phakamile Moyo were yesterday not responding to calls to confirm whether Marara has been receiving salary and benefits during his alleged “retirement phase”.
However, our publication has it on good authority that Marara was not on payroll since his alleged retirement two years ago.
When Marara allegedly resigned he was the city’s housing and the acting human resources director facing corruption allegations over the illegal creation and sale of 150 stands in Kuwadzana, prejudicing the city council of at least US$1,1 million, has formally resigned from municipal service.
Marara was granted $10 000 bail by the High Court after being accused of involvement in the illegal sale of the stands and irregular approval of plans and production of fraudulent layout plans.
Marara in July, 2020 appeared at the Harare Magistrates Courts facing a charge of fraud with an alternative charge of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
The State led by Mr George Manokore, Ms Sheillah Mupindu and Ms Netsai Mushayabasa alleged that in 2017 and 2018 Marara teamed up with other city workers, who have also been arrested and appeared in court, and connived to defraud the city council.
They reportedly identified open spaces in Kuwadzana 3,4,5 and 6 and without application for change of land use, then created fraudulent lay-out plans.
These plans were presented as if they had been approved by council and were used to facilitate water connections and account creation in the municipal financial system.
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