The Sunday News
SUSPENDED Gweru mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi has allegedly skipped the country to Britain with the livery collar (mayoral gold chain) while the whereabouts of his official council vehicle remain a mystery, Sunday News has learnt.
Clr Kombayi and 11 other councillors were suspended by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere on allegations of corruption, incompetence and abuse of council resources in August.
Following his suspension, Clr Kombayi received several letters from council ordering him to return the metallic grey twin cab and the chain of office but never bothered to respond. Court documents indicate that Clr Kombayi has been refusing to surrender the mayoral gold chain and the BT50 Twin Cab.
According to court papers in possession of Sunday News, a Bulawayo High Court judge on October 30 granted council an interim relief in which the respondent (Clr Kombayi) was ordered to return Mazda BT50 motor vehicle (Registration ADB 4130).
“Failure to which the Sheriff be and is hereby authorised to seize the vehicle and deliver it to the applicant. The respondent be and is ordered to return the mayoral regalia to the applicant within 12 hours of service of this order upon him, failing which the Sheriff be and is hereby authorised to seize the property and deliver it to the applicant,” reads the interim relief.
According the council, the mayoral regalia comprises valuable gowns and gold chains which are expensive to replace in the event of their loss or destruction.
Sources said Clr Kombayi was out of the country.
“He left the county via the Beitbridge Border Post driving his official mayoral vehicle. He then left the vehicle in South Africa where he bordered the British Airways flight to Heathrow Airport,” said the source.
However, contacted for comment, Clr Kombayi refuted allegations that he ran away.
“So is this a news worthy story? So you think I can run away because for chains (sic) and car shuwa? Plus I come here (sic) last month November 15,” he said.
Clr Kombayi said he will return council property when he returns to the City of Progress.
He said the Sheriff went to his house where they only managed to collect the mayoress’ chain, adding that he was in Britain for medical reasons.
“I will come and surrender when I come back. That is the truth and that the messenger of court came to my house and took the mayoress’ chain but as I told you that order was granted illegally I was not served with papers and the court made a judgment without the other party. We have a problem with the rule of law,” he said.
In a recent interview with Sunday News, Mr Tsungai Mhangami, the chairperson of the commission running the town, said town clerk Mr Daniel Matawu should deal with the issue of the mayoral vehicle and regalia administratively.
“Mr Matawu is the accounting officer and he should ensure that the property is brought to council as soon as possible,” he said.
