Nkayi RDC in hiring scam

Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
NKAYI Rural District Council (RDC) in Matabeleland North Province is in the eye of a recruitment storm after an accountant who tendered his resignation in January with the local authority accepting it and immediately flighting a vacancy notice sought a withdrawal of his resignation a month later.

This also comes amid allegations that the local authority changed results of an interview for a chief executive officer’s post to favour a candidate who came second.

The accountant, only identified as Mr KB Moyo, wrote to council withdrawing his resignation notice, with councillors seconding the move ignoring advice from their Executive Officer Administration (EOA) that the move was against the principles of corporate governance.

According to a council report from the human resources and administration committee, Mr Moyo reportedly tendered his resignation on 19 January 2022, but later wrote requesting to withdraw the resignation on 11 February 2022.

“The EOA indicated in the previous meeting that the committee accepted Mr Moyo’s resignation and authorised the advertisement of the post.

By so doing, Council declared a vacancy to the public who responded by tendering their applications until the deadline on 11 February 2022.

As such, it would be an unfair labour practice and against the principles of corporate governance to abandon the recruitment process and consider Mr Moyo’s withdrawal of resignation.

She also indicated the costs incurred on advertising and HRAC meeting and operations disrupted since his submission of notice in November 2020,” reads part of the report.

However, in turning down the advice, councillors noted that the finance department was crippled and Mr Moyo was an asset to council that they would like to retain.

“The council chairperson (Jameson Joshua Mnethwa) stated that it is important for council to retain talent and ensure that the human capital is motivated and rewarded.

Councillor Mandla Ncube reiterated the words of the council chairperson indicating that in minute Number 123 the committee had even proposed a meeting with staff to get to the bottom of why employees are leaving the organisation,” reads the council report.

Last week the RDC was in the eye of a storm after they allegedly changed the results of an interview for a chief executive officer to favour a candidate who came second.

Mr Mudimba who came second was selected for the post ahead of Mr Silibele Mpofu who came first.