admin
Midlands Bureau Chief
GWERU Town Clerk Mr Daniel Matawu has been fired. Mr Matawu was found guilty of 15 counts of gross incompetence and neglecting his duties at town house. The chairperson of the commission running the affairs of Gweru city, Mr Tsunga Mhangami, said Mr Matawu was facing 29 counts which were grouped in four sections which include gross incompetence, inefficiency in the performance of work, substantial neglect of duties and conduct or omission inconsistence with the fulfilment of express or implied conditions of employment.
Mr Mhangami said the cash strapped council under the leadership of Mr Matawu was progressing like an unguided missile heading for disaster. “A board of inquiry was appointed to look into the allegations’ which Mr Matawu was facing and it recommended that he be fired. So we wrote to the Local Authority Board which replied giving us the go ahead to terminate his contract with effect from January 16, the day he was suspended,” he said.
“Mr Matawu faced 29 counts and was found guilty on 15 counts and not guilty on 14 counts.” Mr Matawu, Mr Mhangami said, had dismally failed to control even his directors – a situation that led to the collapse of the engineering department with the housing department operating like it had autonomy.
Mr Mhangami accused Mr Matawu of failing to appoint substantive heads of departments in health, engineering and housing services. An investigations committee led by former Bulawayo town clerk, Mr Moffat Ndlovu probed Mr Matawu. He was appointed town clerk in 2007. Mr Matawu was suspended from duty without pay and benefits on January 16.
This was after Local Government Public Works and National Housing Minister Cde Saviour Kasukuwere instructed the commission to dismiss all people facing allegations of corruption and misappropriation of council funds. In May this year, Gweru provincial Magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa, removed Mr Matawu who stood accused of criminal abuse of office, theft and fraud involving $8,733 together with Gweru Mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi, from remand. On removing the duo from remand, Mrs Msipa said the state was not forthcoming with a trial date meaning it was not ready to prosecute them.
Mr Matawu and Clr Kombayi were initially charged with the late deputy mayor Clr Artwell Matyorauta who died in April.
Online Reporter