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Municipal Reporter
All suspended council officials with pending court cases, and these are usually on corruption related charges linked to land scams, remain barred from work after the Government appealed a High Court order allowing them to attend work.
CCC-led Harare City Council has only two substantive directors out of a possible eight with the town clerk, chamber secretary, human capital development manager, and the directors of housing, finance and works all on suspension.
Chitungwiza Municipality is in a similar boat.
In a circular, Local Government and Public Works Permanent Secretary Mr Zvinechimwe Churu said the ministry has appealed against case number HC7536/20 with Chitungwiza Residents Trust.
On 22 September two ministry directives were set aside by the High Court.
He said the first directive was issued by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works on 27 July 2020, and dealt with the attendance at council and committee meetings of Ministry officials.
The second was by the Permanent Secretary for Devolution and Provincial Affairs in Harare Metropolitan Province referenced employees under investigation and those out on bail.
The court set the two aside, so opening the door to a bailed but untried official to return to work.
But with the ministry appealing, this suspends the High Court decision until the Supreme Court hears and decides the appeal.
The appeal comes as affected officials from both Harare City Council and Chitungwiza Municipality had since started reporting for work risking interfering with witnesses and investigations.
Local authorities were advised not to allow those under investigation for corruption-related cases involving land to come to work, as this allows them opportunities to cover their misdeeds.
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