Suspended director faces fraud charges

police against suspended director of finance Mr William Mandinde.
Mr Muringani circulated in advance a report of Mr Mandinde’s suspension before briefing the council of the allegations and irregularities that the finance director must respond while suspended without pay and benefits.
“I suspended the director of financial services without pay and benefits on 4 April 2011 following facts availed to me through the recent (Local Government, Rural and Urban Development) Ministry audit of council affairs,” he said yesterday.
He said the audit alleged gross mismanagement between December 24 2009 to date where Mr Mandinde allegedly took US$71 433 from the main collection point without signing for it.
Mr Mandinde was supposed to respond to the allegations levelled against him within 48 hours of being served with the letter of suspension but the town clerk said he had not responded by yesterday.
The audit also said the council did not keep proper books of accounting from 2009 to 2010. At least 90 percent of payment vouchers were not approved or authorised leading the auditors to suggest that there was lack of internal checks and controls while some pay sheets were signed for without corresponding amounts written on them. Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed they had received the report.
There are indications that more heads will roll at the council, which is characterised by poor service and late payment of workers salaries.