adminSources at the Zvishavane Town House told Chronicle that there was panic within the council as police investigations into the stands case intensified.
“Police have intensified investigations into allegations of irregularities in the allocation of housing stands and this seems to have caused panic among council employees. Most of the employees within the Housing Department have reportedly applied for leave to evade police investigations,” said the source.
The source said the development has paralysed operations within various council departments.
Zvishavane Town Council has for many years failed to appoint substantive heads of department, thus worsening the situation.
“There is a crisis at the moment as the acting town secretary, Mr Max Mugandani has appointed the acting director of Health, Mr Michael Pfunda to be the acting Director of Housing and Community Services after both Mr Phiri and his deputy, a Mrs Kandingurizhe, applied for leave,” said the source.
The source said police investigations into the stands scandal have shaken the town house with employees implicating each other.
Police, the source said, were getting some leads into the investigations because there was a lot of finger pointing ever since the arrest of Zhou and Phiri.
Mr Mugandani was reluctant to comment on the matter when he was contacted yesterday.
“It would not be proper for me to comment on that matter because I am not aware whether the police have completed their investigations or not. What I can only say is that business is normal at the town house with or without police investigations,” he said.
The chairman, Clr Zhou who together with Phiri is out of custody on $50 bail in connection with the matter, confirmed that there were a lot of employees applying for leave.
“It is true that people are applying for leave and the situation is worse within the Housing Department where my co-accused Phiri is the head of department,” he said.
Online Reporter