GWERU town clerk Daniel Matawu was last Friday suspended pending investigations on allegations of presiding over a corrupt council.
by Stephen Chadenga
Chairperson of the commission running the council’s affairs, Tsunga Mhangami, confirmed Matawu’s suspension and said investigations would be instituted against him.
“It is our mandate as a commission to investigate allegations of corruption levelled against council officials and the town clerk is the first to be suspended,” Mhangami said.
The suspension follows a directive by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere that senior officials at council who have engaged in corrupt activities should be shown the exit door basing on the government audit report carried last year.
On his visit to Gweru last week, Kasukuwere said his ministry had empowered the three-member commission led by Mhangami to deal with errant council officials.
“Those in senior administration that have been found by the report (audit) to be unfit to continue being in office must pack their bags and go,” Kasukuwere said on his official visit to the city last Wednesday.
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In the audit report, Matawu was mentioned almost at every item as having failed to properly advise council as its chief executive officer.
According to the report, council lost thousands of dollars in unsound deals with senior managers accused of helping themselves to stands at cheap prices as well as allocating themselves hefty allowances and fuel packages.
Matawu’s suspension follows the suspension of the entire 18 councillors at the local authority, who were accused of similar charges.
