Zvishavane reinstates town secretary

Elizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
ZVISHAVANE Town Council has rescinded an earlier decision to suspend secretary Tinoda Mukutu ahead of a visit to the town by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, to restore order at the municipality.

Mukutu confirmed to The Chronicle yesterday that he was back at work.

He, however, said he was not in a position to comment on the matter before Cde Kasukuwere’s visit on Thursday.

“I’m back at work as we wait for the visit by Minister Kasukuwere this coming Thursday. We’ll only be in a position to comment after his visit,” said Mukutu.

Last week, Cde Kasukuwere said there were a lot of issues which needed to be investigated at the local authority so that residents are not affected in terms of service delivery.

“Yes I’m descending on Zvishavane Town Council most probably next week,” said the Minister.

“What I can tell you at this stage is that there are a lot of areas of concern at Zvishavane especially concerning governance.”

Recently, the town council suspended Mukutu for alleged insubordination after he allegedly dithered on implementing several council resolutions.

The director of housing, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, was then appointed acting town secretary.

One of the council resolutions Mukutu is alleged to have failed to implement was the suspension of the director of finance George Jongoni who was facing allegations of embezzling council funds.

In a letter to Mukutu, council chairman councillor Esau Gwatipedza Dube accused him of continuously defying councillors’ instructions and orders.

“Acting in terms of Section 139 3(a) of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15, it has appeared to the chairman of the Zvishavane Town Council that you have continuously been defying my instructions and orders of the council inter alia allegations, to the extent that I found it fit and desirable to act in terms of Section 3 (a) of the said Act and I therefore suspend you from office forthwith and you are required to leave Zvishavane Town Council office forthwith,” reads part of the letter.