The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube Municipal Reporter
AFTER seven years scouting for a suitably qualified candidate, the Bulawayo City Council has finally managed to fill the position of assistant director of engineering services (roads branch). The position became vacant when the then assistant director of engineering services (roads branch), Engineer Simela Dube resigned. Eng Dube was, however, later on
rehired as the director of engineering services.
According to a council confidential report, Engineer Mbuthi Gugu Mkhwananzi was offered the job with the management committee interviewing only him for the position arguing that despite numerous advertisements very few people had come forward to show interest in the job.
“Mr Mkhwananzi has vast relevant knowledge and experience in the field of civil engineering and displayed that in the systematic manner he answered interview questions. He was very composed throughout the interview and was comfortable and at home with almost all the interview questions posed by the panelists. He was confident and showed a lot of maturity throughout the interview.
“Although Mr Mkhwananzi was the only applicant who was interviewed and therefore, there was no opportunity to compare and contrast his performance, he performed so well and to the satisfication of the panelists,” reads part of the report.
Coincidentally as per the scoring of the interviewing panel, Acting Town Clerk, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, Director of Engineering Services, Eng Dube and the Director of Health Services, Dr Zanele Hwalima all scored Eng Mkhwananzi 88 points.
The director of housing and community services, Mr Isaiah Magagula scored him 95 points while the acting finance director a Miss C Ncube scored him 94 points.
According to Eng Mkhwananzi’s curriculum vitae he is a holder of a Masters degree in project management from the University of Ireland, a Bachelor of Engineering honours degree in Civil engineering from Leeds University.
He also is a holder of a certificate in local government studies from the National University of Ireland, he is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Engineers of Ireland.
“Mr Mkhwananzi started working with the city of Bulawayo as a graduate engineer from 1997 to 1999. He then worked as a roads design engineer in the roads branch from 1999 to 2002. He then moved to Ireland where from 2009 to 2013 he worked on a number of projects as an assistant project manager, engineer or consultant.
“As from 2014 to date, he is working as a design engineer on a project called N25 Castle Martyr Pavement strengthening scheme also in Ireland,” reads part of the report.
Meanwhile, the city’s Mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo last week revealed that the council’s search for a substantial town clerk was at an advanced stage and they would only avail the name of the winning candidate once the process was completed.
“The City of Bulawayo will comment on the filling of the position of the Town Clerk once we have carried out the necessary processes and stages,” said Clr Moyo.
Although he refused to reveal the names of those who had applied impeccable council sources revealed that the current acting town clerk was a front-runner as she was the only council employee who had applied for the position.
“So far the names that that are rumoured to have applied for that job are; Mrs Zhou, Hwange Colliery finance manager Mr Gift Sibanda and Lupane local board town secretary, Mr Gilbert Dube, we will know the full list by next week when a special meeting of the general purposes committee is convened but so far Mrs Zhou is a front-runner as the idea is to promote from within,” said the source.
