adminSukulwenkosi Dube- Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A FORMER Plumtree Town Council Treasurer has appeared in court for allegedly stealing $16 195 from council funds during his term of office.
Joshua Nkomo (52) who runs Kondabayakhe Sports Bar in Plumtree, resigned recently after residents in the border town accused him of embezzling council funds and demanded his suspension.
The residents accused the council administration of overlooking Nkomo’s offence.
Nkomo yesterday pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of theft when he appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa.
He was remanded out of custody to September 30 on $300 bail.
Prosecuting, Mrs Rose Sibanda said during his term of office, from September 3, 2010 to August 16, 2015, Nkomo took money meant for various development projects and for employees and converted it to his personal use.
He also allegedly took advance salaries and did not pay back the money.
The matter came to light after an audit of council finance statements by the local authority’s internal auditor, Mr Christopher Ndlovu.
“During his term of office, Nkomo was the director of finance and he supervised the finance department. He took $5 845 from the council capital development fund and converted the money to his own use.
“Nkomo also took $300 from the council coffers and didn’t return it. He took $7 900 as advance salary, $1 200 from the council’s FBC bank account which was meant for staff mileage,” Mrs Sibanda said.
She said Nkomo also took $1 200 from the council road fund and $950 as advance mileage but did not return the money.
Mrs Sibanda said a council audit report and vouchers were available as exhibits.
The local authority is being represented by Plumtree Town Council chairperson, Mr Paulos Vini Hobane.
Plumtree residents early this year petitioned the Minister of Local Government, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere demanding the suspension of the Plumtree Council administration and all six councillors after accusing them of concealing a case of funds mismanagement by Nkomo.
The residents asked the Minister to deploy government auditors to carry out a consolidated forensic audit in all council departments.
They alleged that Nkomo was last year collecting payments for stands and issuing buyers with fake receipts and pocketing the money.
Plumtree Combined Residents and Development Association Chairperson, Mr Richard Khumalo, who spoke during the meeting, said they had resorted to petitioning the Ministry as the council was not taking action despite numerous reports that had been made.
@DubeMatutu
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