The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Municipal Reporter
LOCAL Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has ordered the Bulawayo City Council to deal with the city’s Director of Engineering Services, Engineer Simela Dube over a council tender which he allegedly mishandled.
Minister Kasukuwere was speaking after presenting the findings of an investigation on corruption allegations levelled against councillors and management at the local authority. He said there was overwhelming evidence against Eng Dube such that councillors had to take disciplinary action against the director as a matter of urgency.
“I have dealt with the councillors, my investigation team has also detailed the corruption with the local authority including the engineering director. Now councillors have to see to it that they deal with the director as soon as possible. The reason I have given the councillors a leeway to deal with the director is because I am empowered directly by the Urban Councils Act to suspend these councillors when there is evidence of corruption, they have the power to deal with their management which is why I have left them to make any decision which they feel is appropriate but my team has provided the necessary proof,” said Minister Kasukuwere.
According to the report Eng Dube has a case to answer regarding a tender to rehabilitate a council bulldozer which saw the local authority losing up to $73 000.
“Council decided to rehabilitate the bulldozer on 06/04/2014 at a cost of $70 870 through tender (recorded as $73 000 in other papers). The contract was awarded to Khanyisile Enterprises and a full tender sum of $73 000 was paid in advance to the contractor. Allegations were that the dozer was never rehabilitated and never functioned despite the full payment of the rehabilitation cost.
“Interviews on the issue were conducted with the director of engineering services (Simela Dube) who confirmed that the bulldozer was in good working condition and was at the dump site. However, the team conducted its own independent assessment and established and confirmed that the dozer was never rehabilitated and was still in the workshop. The Mayor and the Acting Town Clerk were part of the visit to the workshop and had a first-hand appreciation of the misdemeanour,” reads part of the report.
It was further revealed that the local authority all along was aware of Eng Dube’s “dirty dealings” regarding the tender to the extent that in August 2015 a resolution was passed for him to appear before a disciplinary hearing but the hearing had never taken place under unclear circumstances.
“There was unrepentant deceit on the part of the Director for Engineering Services on the operational status and whereabouts of the bulldozer. The local authority has been seriously prejudiced financially and also through the non-availability to execute its functions at the dump site. Pre-payment was made against a guarantee bond which council could not avail.
“Council should immediately implement the resolution passed by council for disciplinary action to be taken against the director for engineering services. Council should also fully explain why it is delaying implementation of the resolution to discipline the director for engineering services,” reads part of the report.
