adminPatrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
A COMMITTEE investigating alleged abuse of office by Gweru City Council (GCC) town clerk Mr Daniel Matawu has allegedly recommended that he be fired.
According to sources at town house, the investigations committee led by former Bulawayo town clerk, Mr Moffat Ndlovu, made the recommendation.
“Mr Matawu is as good as fired after the investigating team concluded its work two weeks ago and then recommended to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing that he be fired. So we’re waiting for that official communication from the ministry in regard to his fate,” said the source.
The source said the Ministry under normal circumstances always considered findings or recommendations of a probe team it would have tasked with any job. Commissioner in charge of finance, Mr Mark Choga, said the commission or council had no powers to fire Mr Matawu and was only waiting for a directive from the Ministry.
“Council doesn’t fire or employ the town clerk. It’s done by the ministry and we’re waiting for their directive. The investigations team did its job and forwarded its findings to the ministry,” he said.
Acting town clerk Mr Edgar Mwedzi yesterday told the Chronicle that the investigations committee also had Bulawayo District Administrator Mr Nkuzi Walela, Buhera Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Capwell Matsinde and an unnamed legal practitioner.
According to the charge sheet seen by The Chronicle, Mr Matawu was facing 31 counts of misconduct, corruption and misappropriation of council funds.
He was appointed town clerk in 2007.
The Tsunga Mhangami-led commission, which is running the affairs of the local authority, initially suspended Mr Matawu from duty without pay and benefits with effect from January 15.
This was after Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Cde Saviour Kasukuwere had 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 from remand Mr Matawu, who stood accused of criminal abuse of office, theft and fraud of $8,733 together with Gweru Mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi.
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 jointly charged with the late deputy mayor Clr Artwell Matyorauta who passed away in April due to a heart problem.
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