Tsholotsho councillors vote for independent tribunal to probe operations

TSHOLOTSHO Rural District councillors have reportedly resolved to appoint an independent tribunal to investigate the operations of council staff over alleged corruption amid revelations that one of the two safari operators in the district has not been remitting royalties.

The resolution comes at a time when council owes workers six months’ forex component salaries as its coffers are said to be dry due to non-remittance of safari royalties by one of the hunting companies.

The local authority is also operating without a substantive leadership following the arrest of its chief executive officer Mr Nkululeko Sibanda and executive officer of finance Mr Bryton Malandule by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) over a cocktail of charges involving abuse of office.

The duo was arrested in December and appeared before Tsholotsho resident magistrate Mr Thomas Gurajena where they were each granted $1,2 million bail pending trial.

After their arrest, they were immediately suspended from work and the council appointed internal auditor Mr Lovemore Ndlovu as acting chief executive officer who accepted the appointment only to resign a day later over undisclosed reasons.

In a special council meeting held last week, councillors reportedly resolved to appoint a team of experts to investigate the operations of the council employees amid fears of deep-rooted corruption over the awarding of tenders.

The team will also investigate the non-remittance of royalties by one of the safari operators.

“The Tsholotsho Rural District Council has sought legal advice from a local law firm in connection with the charge laid on the suspended chief executive officer Nkululeko Sibanda and the suspended finance executive officer Bryton Malandule, as well as the resignation of the interim CEO Lovemore Ndlovu who had accepted the post of acting chief executive officer but tendered his resignation the following day,” reads a confidential report seen by Chronicle.

Councillors then engaged a local legal firm to advise them on how to go around with the appointment of the team of experts to carry out the investigations.

The legal experts advised council not to interfere with ZACC investigations around the cases of Malandule and Sibanda as they could be guilty of obstructing the course of justice.

“The legal expert told council that they have to come up with a resolution on the composition of members to take part in the fact-finding mission,” reads the report.

Council chairperson, Councillor Rophas Ndlovu professed ignorance about the resolution to appoint a tribunal but confirmed that Mathuphula Hunters were in arrears but did not reveal the amount they are owing and the period that the debt has accrued.

He said they have since engaged the operator and agreed on a payment plan.

“Mathuphula is in arrears and payment arrangements have been made between them and council. On salaries we are up to date on the RTGS component but behind by a few months on the USD component.

“We expect all salary arrears to be cleared by end of March if all goes according to plan,” said Clr Ndlovu.

While the council chairperson could not provide figures owed by Mathuphula Hunters, a councillor who requested anonymity said the safari operator owes the local authority over US$400 000.

“The initial contract was for them to pay US$300 000 per hunting season but during Covid-19 they requested a downward review of the amount citing lack of business and council agreed to review by almost half but still they have been failing to pay despite undertaking hunting sessions in the district,” said the councillor.

The problems at the council come at a time when President Mnangagwa has ordered local authorities to regularise their operations through his “call to action” with no compromise to service delivery blue print, which also mandated local authorities to provide their master plans, as well as undertaking valuation exercises for the properties by June 30 this year.