The Sunday News
THERE was drama at Shurugwi Town Council when an employee attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling in the director of finance’s office after demanding close to $4 000 he is owed by the local authority.
The incident occurred on Wednesday last week when the employee, Mr Solomon Nzapu, attempted to commit suicide in the office of the local authority’s director of finance, a Mr Taonezvi’s office. Mr Taonezvi allegedly refused to release the money owed to Mr Nzapu in medical bills as well as salary arrears backdated to March.
A witness alleged that Mr Nzapu went to Shurugwi Town House where he asked to see Mr Taonezvi so that he would process his money which he was owed after his son underwent kidney surgery worth $7 200 after he was involved in a road accident sometime last year.
As part of the employees’ benefits, the council meets half of the employee and his or her dependant’s medical expenses.
An employee, who preferred anonymity alleged that Mr Nzapu’s son developed an infection in the kidneys as a result of the operation and was supposed to undergo another operation at a cost of $2 000, a development which forced him to approach the local authority seeking his dues.
The employee told Sunday News that all hell broke loose when Mr Taonezvi refused to sign Mr Nzapu’s financial requisition forms so that the money would be released.
“Nzapu approached Mr Taonezvi and asked for his money so that he would take his ailing child to hospital. Nzapu was asked to bring the child’s birth certificate as proof that the child was indeed his, to which he complied.
“When Nzapu brought the birth certificate, Mr Taonezvi refused to process his money resulting in a heated argument. Nzapu took a rope and tied his neck and hanged himself from the ceiling. He was, however, rescued by fellow council employees who cut the rope and he was rushed to Shurugwi District Hospital,” said the employee. Mr Nzapu confirmed that he had a misunderstanding with the local authority over his money resulting in him attempting to commit suicide.
“It is true that I became emotional due to my personal problems that I wanted to address at that time and acted in that manner. You do not have to write about it because the dispute was between me and my employer and I hope that it will be resolved amicably. Writing about the story would jeopardise our efforts to reach a consensus,” he said.
Acting town clerk Mr Jonathan Asili dismissed the allegations as mere speculation.
“Like any other organisation in the country we have financial constraints and we have delayed in paying our employees. People come here every day demanding their salaries because we owe them. I did not receive any report regarding that matter,” he said. Shurugwi Town Council workers have gone for four months without salaries, amid reports that the local authority purchased two Ford Ranger vehicles for the town clerk and director of finance as well as 19 laptops for the management and councillors.
The council allegedly allocated stands to councillors in Impali Park that were developed and handed over to the local authority by Unki Mine as part of the agreement. Shurugwi Residents Association secretary general Mr Tinashe Chitakunye confirmed that the council bought vehicles that were registered with private registration numbers.
“We are at loggerheads with our City Fathers over the vehicles and laptops. We received reports that council employees have gone for four months without salaries and yet they misplace their priorities,” he said.
