adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
PLUMTREE residents have petitioned the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere demanding the suspension of the Plumtree Council administration and all six councillors after accusing them of concealing a case of mismanagement by the town treasurer.
The residents pointed out the need for the minister to deploy Government auditors to carry out a consolidated forensic audit in all council departments. Town treasurer Mr Joshua Nkomo was allegedly during the period from February to November last year collecting payments for stands and issuing buyers with fake receipts and pocketing the money in the process.
Residents resorted to petitioning the ministry after they reported the matter to the council officials in November who did not take any action until now.
Meanwhile, council officials have been forced to carry out investigations as they are set to hold a hearing for Mr Nkomo.
Plumtree Town Council chairperson, Mr Paulos Vini Hobane said investigations were in progress and relevant action would be taken once the process has been completed.
“There is a case of theft against the council treasurer, Joshua Nkomo. He is facing charges of selling stands to residents and issuing fake receipts. One of the affected residents approached the council with the complaint that debt collectors were demanding payment for her stand when on the other hand she had already paid the money. We are carrying out investigations and further action will be determined by the findings. For now only one person has come forth with a fake receipt but it appears that there could be more,” said Hobane.
In a meeting that was held recently residents demanded that council administration and councillors be suspended in order to pave way for a transparent audit and investigation team that could deal with allegations against Nkomo.
In the petition residents appealed with the Ministry to suspend the council officials for failing to take proper action against the town treasurer.
Plumtree combined Residents and Development Association Chairperson Mr Richard Khumalo said they received a tip off on the matter of fake receipts after a potential client approached the council complaining of being issued a fake receipt.
“It is possible that the town treasurer has been conducting these unscrupulous activities for a long time thereby short changing rate payers. It is sad to note that the council all along has been shielding him. The councillors failed to monitor the management while the management has been housing fraudsters all along and that is why we want them all to be suspended so that we can get to the bottom of this matter. If they are all innocent then that means they will come back to work,” said Mr Khumalo.
Online Reporter