Online Reporter
Freedom Mupanedemo, Midlands Bureau
THE Local Government Board has directed Gweru City Council (GCC) to re-advertise the vacant position of Town Clerk, compelling the local authority to once again seek a suitable candidate from the public.
In a letter addressed to the Mayor, Councillor Martin Chivhoko, the Local Government Board Chairperson, Mr Stephen Chakaipa, stated that the three candidates, who had progressed to council interviews had failed to meet the required standards.
“All three candidates forwarded to the Local Government Board were interviewed on 1 November 2024. The Local Government Board regrets to inform Council that the post of Town Clerk for the City of Gweru must be re-advertised, as the candidates did not meet the required criteria for this position. Please be guided accordingly,” wrote Mr Chakaipa to Councillor Chivhoko.
Councillor Chivhoko confirmed that the council re-advertised the position last week in the local press.
“We received communication from the Local Government Board instructing us to re-advertise the post because the three candidates we had recommended did not meet the set criteria. As such, the post has been re-advertised,” he said.
GCC has been seeking a substantive Town Clerk to replace Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza, who was dismissed in 2019.
Since her departure, the council has operated under a succession of acting Town Clerks — a situation residents have blamed for the municipality’s ongoing service delivery challenges.
Last year, the council placed an advert in newspapers inviting prospective applicants, with the deadline set for December 4. A total of 24 individuals applied, but it was later revealed that the majority failed to meet the required standards, prompting another re-advertisement.
Following the initial screening process, only four of the 24 applicants met the advertised requirements.
However, the number was deemed insufficient for the council to proceed with interviews, leading to a second call for applications.
The most recent round of interviews, held in November last year, again proved inconclusive, as the Local Government Board rejected all three shortlisted candidates.
The post became vacant following the dismissal of Ms Gwatipedza, who was found guilty on three charges, including disobeying a lawful order to submit her employment contract and those of other departmental heads.
She was also found guilty of gross incompetence for failing to comply with audit procedures and for poor supervision of the finance department.
Following her dismissal, the then Chamber Secretary, Mr Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe, was appointed Acting Town Clerk.
He later resigned, alleging persecution and victimisation by Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillors.
Prior to his resignation, Mr Chikwekwe had been suspended after being arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).
He was accused of violating tender procedures that led to companies — Sheasham, Casas and Wackdrive — being awarded contracts to service residential stands in Mkoba 21 and Randolph Phase 1 suburbs.
Mr Chikwekwe’s criminal abuse of office case was later withdrawn when he appeared before a Gweru provincial magistrate.
He was subsequently replaced by the city’s Finance Director, Mr Livingston Churu, who holds the position in an acting capacity.
