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Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
GOVERNMENT has suspended Harare Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni for failing to deal with corruption allegations at Easi Park, City Parking and other entities barely a day after his reinstatement.
A full council meeting scheduled for yesterday failed to take place after most MDC councillors boycotted the meeting in protest over the mayor’s suspension.
Acting chamber secretary Mr Charles Kandemiri said those in attendance failed to meet the required quorum of 17.
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On Monday Government sanctioned the return of Clr Manyenyeni to Town House after failing to set up an independent tribunal to try him for violating Sections of the Urban Councils Act.
Clr Manyenyeni was suspended by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere on March 20, pending an investigation into his conduct after he employed banker Mr James Mushore as town clerk without the Local Government Board’s approval.
Acting Local Government Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, who wrote the letter informing Clr Manyenyeni of the lifting of his suspension, yesterday wrote another one suspending the mayor for failing to carry out an audit of the city’s companies.
He has been barred from attending any council business and will not be paid any allowance during his suspension.
“It has come to my attention that on July 27, 2015, you were advised in writing of very serious allegations of corruption at Easipark and City Parking and ordered by Honourable Saviour Kasukuwere in terms of Section 316 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) to cause a forensic audit of the two entities and to provide a preliminary report to the Minister on the same within six weeks of the engaging of the auditors.
“Subsequent to this, the Auditor General advised you in writing on January 25, 2016 to expand the forensic audit to all the entities under the Harare Sunshine Holdings Private Limited. While on paper you purported to implement the Auditor General’s advice, you in fact instructed officials who manage these entities not to allow the audit. In the result the auditors appointed to carry out the audit were prevented from doing so by the entities with your knowledge and support,” reads the letter.
Prof Moyo went on to say the actions were in violation of duty and abuse of office.
He added that the allegations levelled against the entities under the Harare Sunshine Holdings were very serious and the failure to attend to the matter that was first brought to Clr Manyenyeni on July 27 last year constitutes gross dereliction of duty bordering on incompetence and corruption to the detriment of Harare residents.
“In the circumstances and in light of the gravity of the matter, I am compelled to suspend you with immediate effect from the Office of mayor of City of Harare and councillor ward 17 in terms of Section 114(1) of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) as read with section 278(2)(b) and (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“Please note that during the period of the said suspension, you shall not conduct any council business on behalf of the city and you shall not be eligible to receive any allowance,” reads the letter.
Clr Manyenyeni yesterday exonerated himself from any wrong doing saying he does not run the entities in question.
Online Reporter