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Tsvangirai demanding reports on councillors fired by the party to enable Government to make informed intervention.
However, the MDC-T has vowed not to co-operate with the minister’s request.
MDC-T dismissed 12 councillors last month from various cities on corruption charges.
The dismissals were effected without consulting Minister Chombo whose ministry superintends over all local government issues.
The minister learnt of the expulsion in the media.
The affected councillors are from Harare, Gweru, Kwekwe and Zvishavane.
“I take note with interest, of the developments germane to the councillors expelled from the MDC-T under conditions consistent with corruption. Could you, Honourable Prime Minister (Tsvangirai) favour me with reports depicting the relevant councils, councillors involved, premise and details of corruption charges and any other information pertaining to the conduct of the said councillors,” reads part of the minister’s letter to the PM.
He told PM Tsvangirai that in line with its regulatory and supervisory mandate, his ministry had been conducting systems and investigative audits in rural and urban councils for the past three years.
“Our interventions have exposed the bad and ugly goings-on in our local authorities, especially urban. The revelations are varied as there are actors in different councils,” Minister Chombo said.
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He said the investigations unearthed gross administrative aberrations, violation of tender procedures and rampant looting of council resources.
Half-hearted approach to service delivery, passing of unlawful resolutions, conspicuous disregard for ratepayers’ concerns, poor estates management including unsanctioned access to and disposal of commercial, residential and industrial stands by councillors were some of the irregularities the ministry established.
“The afore-cited distill into mismanagement of affairs or finances of council by councillors, collectively or severally,” Minister Chombo said.
He said where councillors were found guilty of misconduct remedial action was taken and some councillors were either suspended or dismissed.
Minister Chombo said the disciplinary measures were preceded by professional investigation processes carried out in terms of the Urban Councils Act and the Rural District Council Act.
“Where such investigations exposed sustainable cases of misconduct, the ministry then initiated boards of inquiry headed in each case by a registered legal practitioner to afford the affected councillors an opportunity to be heard consistent with the laws of natural justice,” he said.
However, PM Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka said while he was not aware of Minister Chombo’s letter, the MDC-T would not co-operate with him.
“I am not aware of the letter but at the same time I know the PM’s position on the matter — the party engaged in its own internal process,” he said.
Mr Tamborinyoka went on to accuse Minister Chombo of protecting corrupt councillors in the past, giving Chitungwiza as an example.
“We therefore do not feel obliged to co-operate with him,” he said.
However, the councillors are still performing their duties as their dismissals were not done procedurally.
Among the dismissed councillors are Harare deputy mayor Mr Emmanuel Chiroto and Gweru mayor Mr Tedious Chimombe.
Online Reporter