Mayor dismisses corruption charges

Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo has dismissed corruption allegations levelled against the local authority by the Affirmative Action Group(AAG), saying the lobby group was seeking relevance through baseless accusations. Addressing a press conference in council chambers yesterday, Cllr Moyo said council was dismayed by a barrage of attacks and negative publicity from the AAG.

“We’re dismayed that an organisation that we’ve always held in high esteem can stoop so low and behave like jilted teenage girls that are hysterical, irrational and vengeful,” said Cllr Moyo. The mayor’s reaction follows an urgent chamber application filed by the AAG recently at the High Court seeking to compel the government to suspend deputy mayor Gift Banda on graft charges.

Cllr Moyo said although the AAG was trying to tarnish the council’s image, it could not take away the fact that it was the “best run local authority in the country and region”. “Bulawayo has in the past won accolades for being the best run urban council. In April we won the prize for being the best run local authority in the country. Just last week we were named the second best city council in the Sadc region with Lusaka (in Zambia) coming out tops,” he said.

“I’m dismayed that the AAG wants to take that away from us by continuing to throw mud at our faces.” Cllr Moyo said all tender procedures and recruitments were above board and could be accounted for. “We’re not saying we shouldn’t be criticised. We don’t condone corruption, where there is evidence of corruption let’s know and bring us that evidence so that if there is a need to take disciplinary action we’re able to do so, but some of the allegations may need to be taken to the police,” said the mayor.

“If you know something that someone is doing is criminal, why keep it (to yourself) and not let the police know. The council values integrity, transparency, consultation, stability, accountability and efficiency.” The AAG has alleged that local authority tenders worth $8,749,914 have serious irregularities due to massive corruption, nepotism, negligence and collusion by Bulawayo City Council officials.

The mayor, in his address, clarified the issuance of the Emhlangeni tender to Stelix Investment for the servicing of 391 medium density stands as well as those in Mahatshula North. He also explained other tendered projects and the allocation of land to the deputy mayor. The mayor said the sale of land to Cllr Banda had not been completed as the deputy mayor was yet to pay a deposit and advertise for objections before signing an agreement of sale.

“An application was received from councillor Banda for a portion of land and was circulated and submitted to the Town, Lands and Planning Committee and subsequently to council. The land isn’t designated for town house stands and hence the tender procedure falls away,” explained Cllr Moyo. Meanwhile, a few minutes before the press conference, vendors accompanied by the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), staged a demonstration at the small city hall against their removal from the streets.