The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube,Online News Editor
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has been given the greenlight to appoint a substantial deputy finance director after the Local Government Board endorsed one of the candidates that had been interviewed by the local authority.
BCC was recently stopped by the Local Government Board from internally promoting personnel to some of the top positions, including the directors to the Human Capital and Town Planning departments.
However, for the position of deputy finance director the position had to be filled through a competitive process.
According to council confidential report the Local Government Board has endorsed the appointment of Mr Cyprian Dabengwa as the deputy finance director. He was previously the assistant finance director.
The local authority’s chief internal auditor, Mr Tennyson Mpunzi, who was also targeting the same position has since had a lateral transfer to replace Mr Dabengwa as the assistant financial director.
In a letter from the Local Government Board chairperson, Mr Stephen Chakaipa, Mr Dabengwa was found to have a distinct edge against all the other candidates.
“All the candidates who were forwarded to the Local Government Board attended the interview. After thorough deliberations and taking everything into account, the Local Government Board was satisfied that Mr Cyprian Bongani Dabengwa has a distinct edge above the other candidates in terms of experience and exposure.
“The Local Government Board resolved through resolution number LGB 016/21 and acting upon the powers vested in the board in terms of Section 123(e) as read with Sections 134 and 135 of the Urban Councils Act approves the appointment of Mr Dabengwa to the post of deputy director of finance for the City of Bulawayo.
If he declines to take up the post Mr Tennyson Mpunzi will take up the post. The appointment is with effect from the date of assumption of duty,” reads part of the letter.
According to the report, Mr Dabengwa will officially start in his new position on 1 December. Meanwhile, the local authority has endorsed 13 out of 14 new appointments to various positions after the Government had given them the greenlight to recruit critical staff.
Councillors only rejected the appointment of a senior security and traffic officer after questioning why the local authority had chosen to appoint someone from outside the organisation instead of promoting internally.
“Alderman Siboniso Khumalo sought clarity on the appointment of the person. He wanted to know if the appointment had been done internally or externally. If the recruitment had been done externally, this was likely to create some problems. He felt the recruitment should have been done from within.
“The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mlandu Ncube noted that this was a sensitive position which required someone who was now conversant with council systems. He, however, felt that there was a need to have an entry point for those who came from outside the organisation. There was no urgency in this appointment and the matter should be deferred,” reads the report.
In response, the city’s acting human capital director, Mr Makhosi Tshalebwa noted that previously the position was occupied by ex-police or ex-army personnel.
“Mr Tshalebwa explained that the position had been vacant for a month. Every grade had its own qualifications. This was a sensitive position which had always been occupied by an ex-police or ex-army person. There was only one person who was still pursuing the required degree.
The Acting Town Clerk (Engineer Simela Dube) further explained that there was a need for the internal staff to upgrade themselves. Council had a post entry study scheme which employees should take advantage of to upgrade themselves. The internal staff available were not ready to take up the position,” reads the report.
After further deliberations, councillors resolved to halt the appointment of the senior security and traffic officer with the staff member who has been acting in that position to continue until further notice.
