Trio shortlisted for Rusape job

Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
Rusape Town Council has shortlisted three top candidates for the post of town secretary.

The interviews were held last Monday, with Rusape treasurer Mr Solomon Gabaza emerging as the leading candidate.

Mr Gabaza reportedly outperformed the other eight candidates who were interviewed for the post.

In second place was nomadic former Mvurwi secretary and Chinhoyi town clerk Mr Mungororo Mazai, who had a brief stint with his last employer and left under unclear circumstances.

Chitungwiza audit manager Mr Jimmy Chiundura came third.

The three candidates will be subjected to further interviews by the Local Government Board at a date to be advised.

The interviews were not without drama as two senior officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing allegedly attempted to halt them.

Principal administrative officer in the ministry, Mr Leonard Goposa, allegedly phoned council chairman Alderman Amon Chawasarira instructing him to stop the interviews.

Ald Chawasarira then demanded that Mr Goposa put his instructions in writing. Mr Goposa sent an unsigned and unstamped letter via a private e-mail of one Enety Gwenda.

Acting permanent secretary in the Ministry, Retired Colonel Joseph Mhakayakora, allegedly also e-mailed the council using the private email of Enety Gwenda.

Investigations by The Herald Eastern Edition revealed that Enety Gwenda is a student on attachment at the ministry’s head office.

The letter, which was e-mailed by Rtd Col Mhakayakora and seen by The Herald was dated September 7, 2017, when in fact the interviews were being done on September 11, 2017.

It did not have an official date stamp.

The letter was instructing the local authority to stop the interviews, re-advertise the post and bring back the minimum age from 40 to 35.

Of the 26 candidates who applied for the post, only 36-year-old Mr Taurai Maja from National Co-ordination Unit, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector was not shortlisted because he was below 40.

Rusape is not the only local authority to demand that candidates be 40 years and above.

Rusape councillors and two secondments from United Councils’ Association of Zimbabwe continued with the interviews despite the letter.