Gokwe Town Council faces probe over maladministration

THE Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has dispatched a team to Gokwe Town Council to investigate maladministration allegations against the local authority.

The council has allegedly been turned into a circus that has seen four people assuming the role of acting town secretary in a space of four years.

Joseph Madhlokuwa, Joconia Nyoni, Alexander Nyoni all have since assumed the role since the sacking of then town secretary, Ms Melania Mandeya, in 2020 on allegations of criminal abuse of office.

Ms Mandeya was sacked together with Mr Nyoni who was the finance director.

Mr Nyoni would, however, bounce back after the ministry directed his reinstatement in 2023 and he was quickly seconded to take over from Mr Nyandoro, who was then acting town secretary.

Soon after taking over, Mr Nyoni is said to have facilitated the suspension of Mr Nyandoro on allegations of having purchased a Toyota Hilux GD5 model, which was not delivered to council. This forced Mr Nyandoro to step down from the post leaving Mr Nyoni to take over.

A few months down the line, Mr Nyoni also offered to step down from the post citing health reasons and an unconducive environment, among other reasons.

He opted to revert to his position as substantive finance director and the council appointed Engineer Melsn Masukume to the post.

The confusion even worsened when the council reinstated Mr Nhlopo Dube eight years after dismissal, leaving the council with two administrative officers.

The back and forth has been derailing service delivery at the local authority, forcing the ministry to dispatch a team to investigate malpractices at the council.

Council chairperson, Councillor Liscias Mutegwe, confirmed that a team was expected anytime.

“I can confirm that Eng Musukume was recently appointed acting town secretary. I also confirm that the Government has since dispatched a team and we are expecting them anytime from now,” he said.

In a letter dated May 16, signed by then Minister Daniel Garwe, the team was appointed to look into allegations of maladministration and current staffing issues at the council.

“In conducting the inquiry you will be guided by terms of reference including the investigation of legal and procedural issues surrounding the reinstatement of Mr Nhlopo Dube the administrative officer, after eight years, resulting in two employees on the same post.

“Also, to analyse the council organogram and probe possible breach of the same by recruiting or filling in unsanctioned posts and possibilities of irregular replacements,” wrote the minister.

The team was also directed to investigate involvement of councillors in the running of day-to-day operations of the council and to look into any other issue reasonably incidental to matters under probe.

The inquiry is expected to last 10 working days.