The Sunday News
Midlands Correspondent
SILOBELA Ward 20 Councillor, Sisasenkosi Ndebele (MDC-A) is in an eye of a storm after she allegedly embezzled public funds contributed by villagers for transporting food relief maize meal from Kwekwe.
The councillor reportedly received the funds in June before she vanished after collecting $3 600 and US$250 which was meant to pay for transport to ferry food relief maize from Kwekwe Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depot to Silobela.
The councillor also has a pending case at the courts after she reportedly stole 20 bags of fertiliser meant for the Presidential Input Scheme. Silobela Member of Parliament Cde Mthokozisi Manoki Mpofu confirmed having received the report but could not be drawn into divulging finer details saying he was yet to get full information.
“I have received the information but we are still investigating the matter. I will be able to comment after receiving full details,” said Hon Manoki.
According to villagers in the ward who refused to be named for fear of victimisation, the councillor disappeared from the area after receiving the money from the ward committee treasurers.
“She is nowhere to be seen and the villagers are stranded. She is nowhere to be seen and at times she sneaks into her house where she hides and sneaks back to Kwekwe. We are stranded. We have told our MP and we have also notified police but we are still to get the final outcome.”
The residents said Clr Ndebele also allegedly sold boreholes pipes donated by the legislator.
“Cde Manoki donated pipes meant to rehabilitate boreholes, but surprisingly the councillor made the local village heads to pay monies to get the pipes. Literally she sold the pipes,” said another villager.
Contacted for comment, Cllr Ndebele however, lashed out at political nemesis who were plotting her downfall.
“Nothing like that happened, as we speak I am in the ward where we are actually distributing food relief. I don’t know what you are talking about. But I know the person, he is seeking my downfall as he is interested in my position,” she said.
She said she collected the funds which she used for paying for transport to ferry the maize. On borehole pipes, Clr Ndebele said she only requested for transport money to ferry the pipes. She, however, refused to comment on the Presidential Inputs fertiliser issue saying the matter was before the courts.
