Zacc to investigate BCC top officials

Vusumuzi Dube, Municipal Reporter
TOP officials at the Bulawayo City Council could soon be investigated by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) for graft after residents wrote to the body highlighting numerous corrupt activities allegedly committed by the staffers.

Although efforts to get a comment from Zacc spokesperson Mrs Phyllis Chikundura were fruitless yesterday, Sunday News is in possession of a letter written by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association through their lawyers, Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, to Zaac highlighting various graft shenanigans allegedly carried out by top officials at the local authority.

Chief among the allegations was the failure by the local authority to implement recommendations made by Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing investigating the team. The recommendations included among others the prosecution and possible firing of the local authority’s director of engineering services, Engineer Simela Dube. Eng Dube was fingered in a scam that involved a tender for the rehabilitation of a council bulldozer which resulted in the local authority losing $73 000.

The residents further question the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, through their then permanent secretary, Engineer George Mlilo for failing to challenge a High Court appeal by the city’s deputy mayor, Councillor Gift Banda challenging his expulsion from council on corruption allegations.

“We request that you make investigations into the reasons why the recommendations of a Bulawayo City Council audit findings of 18 June 2015 and that of the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National housing which recommended that Eng Simela Dube be charged and the dismissal of (deputy mayor) Clr Banda.

“Surprisingly BCC Town Clerk (Mr Christopher Dube) has failed to implement the findings of the two reports. What is of concern is the fact that the former Local Government Ministry’s permanent secretary, Eng George Mlilo did not defend the litigation by Clr Banda. In the same meeting the town clerk was awarded mining claims by the same cabal in clear abuse of corporate governance,” reads part of the letter.

The residents allege that Eng Dube was protected by Eng Mlilo who they allege are related to each other. In further buttressing, Eng Dube’s offence, the residents allege that he played a central role in defrauding the local authority of $76 000 involving the refurbishment of the bulldozer.

“Eng Dube ordered a team of diesel plant fitters led by William Sibanda and John Simbi to temporarily shut down Richmond landfill and strip a working CAT bulldozer (BCC 666) of its transmission which is in perfect working order. The transmission was then ferried using Bulawayo City Council flatbed crane truck number 265 to the Pumula South gravel pit where the council bulldozer (BCC 668) is parked. The bulldozer had a contract valued at $73 000 to overhaul the transmission but the contractor is alleged to have just painted and returned it with the connivance of Eng Dube,” reads the letter.

In a letter attached to the report sent to the residents’ association, the town clerk Mr Dube claimed that he dismissed the recommendations of both the Government investigation team and the internal audit as he felt there was no evidence of corruption on the part of Eng Dube.

“I discovered that the engineer’s staff in the transport section mismanaged the contract and they in some instances misinformed him about work on the bulldozer. While he has overall responsibility of managing the department, the questions is, should he be liable for the wrong doing of his subordinates,” reads the letter.

According to the audit report and Government stipulated investigation findings carried out last year, Eng Dube had a case and was meant to appear before a disciplinary committee.

On the other hand, Clr Banda was reinstated as the city’s deputy mayor following an application he made to the High Court challenging his dismissal and seeking an order nullifying the decision of the independent tribunal which found him guilty of misconduct.

The deputy mayor was relieved of his duties last year after a Government instituted tribunal found him guilty of unprocedurally getting a lease for the construction of a social club at Hume Park but was exonerated on the purchase of a piece of land at Ascot Racecourse for the construction of town houses.

However, Justice Makonese ruled that the decision of the tribunal was not grounded on any facts on the record of proceedings and the then Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Saviour Kasukuwere relied on misrepresentations to fire the deputy mayor.

Of late Zaac has been investigating a number of local authorities over graft. Last month, Zaac arrested Harare director of housing and social development Edmore Nhekairo, Mutare Town Clerk Joshua Maligwa and Rusape housing director Lawrance Mushayabasa, among other high ranking officials.