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HARARE City Council Work and Town Planning chairperson, Councillor Takudzwa Dzumbunu, was detained yesterday at the Old Makombe Building after being found guilty of contempt by the Commission of Inquiry investigating issues within the Council.
The Commission ruled that Dzumbunu’s actions constituted a wilful interruption of their proceedings.
Dzumbunu appeared before the Commission on Tuesday but failed to return with essential documents by the required deadline of 1pm yesterday despite being excused at 11am to come up with the requirements.
Initially, she claimed she had no access to the required information.
She said:
“I had no access to information until the end of the day.”
However, she later admitted that she received the documents electronically by 1:30pm, raising questions about her credibility.
Dzumbunu pleaded with the Commision to rule with mercy.
“I know ignorance is not an excuse, but it will be my plea to this Commission to, perhaps, maybe have a lesser sentence for me.
“This is my first time going through something like this, I might not have been aware of some of the expectations for this Commission.”
The Commission was critical of her inconsistent explanations.
Retired High Court Judge, Justice Maphios Cheda, said:
“We are not convinced that the reason you gave is a plausible one,
“We also want to point out that throughout your entirety, you were very aggressive. Your demeanour carries all the ingredients of a contemptuous behaviour of the Commission, which unfortunately we cannot accept.
“This Commission has been set up by the Head of State in order to look into the affairs of the Harare City Council and we expect each and every person here to take it very seriously.
“Even the Mayor of the City of Harare is on record, immediately after the proclamation and swearing-in of this Commission, that he expected each and every person appearing before it to be cooperative, which unfortunately we find lacking in you as a witness.”
He added:
“You are, therefore, found guilty of willfully interrupting the proceedings of the Commission.
“We find that this type of conduct is not expected from a person who holds a position as a Councillor and, above all, who other Councillors have found to be suitable to be a chairperson of a particular committee.
“We therefore make an order that you be removed from these proceedings for the time being and direct that you be detained in custody within these premises until the Commission’s rising at 4 pm today, October 16, 2024.”
Online Reporter