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MUTARE’S city councillors on Tuesday spent over an hour quarrelling over the selling of a church stand in Hobhouse high-density suburb to the Anglican Church. Tempers flared in the meeting with councillors raising all sorts of allegations against the Town Clerk, Mr Obert Muzawazi, calling him to account for the sale of the stand which he personally presided over against a council resolution that the sale of the stand should be done through a tender process.
Mr Muzawazi, who is currently on leave, was represented by the chamber secretary, Mrs Gladys Muneta.
Ward 9 councillor Clr Crispen Dube raised the matter and asked the mayor, Clr Tatenda Nhemarare, on matters arising, why the Hobhouse church stand had been sold abruptly for $20 000 against a council resolution to have it sold through a tender system.
Mrs Muneta, answering on behalf of Mr Muzawazi, said the Town Clerk had executed the decision to have the stand sold because there was an urgent need for the money and the stand had also found no takers following a previously placed tender advert of the stand in the local Press.
“We were in urgent need of cash for council business and I think his (Mr Muzawazi) decision was based on the fact that no takers had applied after a previously placed advert in The Manica Post . . .
“This issue is, however, the Town Clerk’s issue to attend to, so if anyone has a bone to chew, take it up with him when he comes back,” said Mrs Muneta.
Clr Dube said the matter was not personal or political, but was not happy about the manner in which the stand was sold.
He added that several other issues were coming to him through the grapevine about commercial stand infills being sold in unclear circumstances, something he said should be nipped in the bud.
“We sat as a Public Works committee and agreed on this issue and I remember hearing through the grapevine that there were councillors who were given kickbacks to lobby for the selling of the stand to the Anglican Church.
“I need to be guided, Your Worship, if they (Town Clerk and management) say there were no churches that expressed interest in the stand and why they did not place another advert?
“Apart from this case, we are hearing that commercial stand in-fills are being sold in unclear circumstances.
“We should not turn a blind eye on this issue.
“It is of no use for us to be here if we pass decisions as council and one person goes against the decisions.
“In the worst case scenario, Clr Nyamhoka of the respective ward should at least have been notified,” charged Clr Dube.
Ward 14 councillor Clr Blessing Tandi, however, corrected Mrs Muneta and said the previously placed advert in the Press showed that the stand in question was a crèche stand, not a church stand.
Ward 6 councillor Tarwirei Mabika concurred with Clr Dube and said: “Your Worship, this is painful. I believe as council if we agree on a thing, let us do as agreed.
“But in this case, one or two people decided otherwise and went against a council resolution.
“Action should be taken against the Town Clerk who is said to have made this decision, otherwise, as councillors we will stop attending the full council meetings because they are of no use.
“We are tired of such wayward behaviour. We want action on this matter.
“These are some of the things that will lead to corruption if not nipped in the bud,” he said.
Ward 18 councillor Tawanda Chisango said their authority as the city fathers was being undermined.
He said first was the resolution ordering the Town Clerk to pay workers that was not followed and now a church stand was sold behind their backs.
“There is a similar church stand sold for $37 000 in Hobhouse, but this one was only sold for $20 000. If we do not stamp our authority such rebellious behaviour will never change and our existence as city fathers will be insignificant.
“I am also of the opinion that the councillors who allegedly received bribes to lobby for certain churches should be named and shamed,” said Clr Chisango.
Ward 1 councillor Thomas Nyamupanedengu, in an attempt to tone down the flaring tempers, said the Town Clerk and management might have acted in good faith given the need for money that time, but in the future there should be communication, at least to the chairperson of the particular committee or ward concerned.
In conclusion, Mayor Nhamarare said he would dig deeper into the issue.
“I will dig deeper into the issue. In the next full council meeting I will give my answer on the matter.
“There are various allegations and important issues raised so I need to dig deeper into the whole issue,” said Clr Nhamarare.
Online Reporter