The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Municipal Reporter
UMGUZA Rural District Council (RDC) has set themselves on a collision course with the Government after they overturned the suspension of their chief executive officer, arguing that they felt he was innocent in all allegations levelled against him.
Mr Collen Moyo was suspended last month by the Government over corruption allegations, with indications that more officials from the local authority could face the wrath of the law. However, the RDC on Thursday convened their own disciplinary hearing where they resolved to overturn the Government instituted suspension after finding the CEO not guilty.
In recent months, there have been a number of complaints levelled against Umguza RDC officials with some people alleging that council officials were constantly demanding bribes for one to be considered in land allocation. Some people have said they have been on the council waiting list for more than five years with no joy.
“Some people have complained that they had their agri-plots repossessed by the RDC and sold to new beneficiaries in unclear circumstances. In addition, some villagers in the district have accused council of grabbing their communal land and converting it into residential stands or agri-plots.
Contacted for comment, the council chairperson, Councillor Alexandra Gasela was emotional telling this reporter that he does not discuss council business with the media.
“Where did you get my number, I do not even chair that committee, besides I do not talk council business with the media,” said Clr Gasela before hanging up his phone.
Nonetheless, Sunday News spoke to the council deputy chairperson, who also chaired the disciplinary committee, Clr Sisa Moyo who confirmed that they had lifted Mr Moyo’s suspension.
“Yes, we have lifted that suspension because we found him not guilty on all the alleged crimes brought before us therefore effectively, he will be resuming his duties on Monday,” said Clr Moyo.
Questioned on what mandate they had to lift the suspension since it was effected by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Clr Moyo said she was not privy “to such information”. The move is, however, likely to put the local authority at loggerheads with the Government, with the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde July Moyo saying the suspension stood so as to allow necessary investigations to take place.
“The Umguza CEO remains suspended as we want to allow further investigations to take place before we make a final resolution on the matter.
“Remember, the suspension was after a Ministerial team came to carry out investigations and therefore made that recommendation,” Cde Moyo told Sunday News yesterday.
According to sources at the RDC, a lot of individuals have since Mr Moyo’s suspension come out with various allegations of corruption mainly involving stands within the local authority. There has been increased demand for plots which are in the district which is situated on the edges of the city of Bulawayo.
“As it is the council is up in arms with villagers at Thokozani Village in Ntabazinduna where they are taking communal grazing lands and fields, turning them into plots thereby displacing the occupants. Everyday we have people coming to our offices with various complaints mainly regarding repossession of stands and demands for bribes,” said a source.
The investigation, which led to Mr Moyo’s suspension was mainly focused on the alleged allocation and repossession of agri-plots in Montgomery with people reportedly paying up to US$1 000 as bribes so as to get the plots. The plots are also sold in foreign currency by the council.
