Vusumuzi Dube
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
THE Victoria Falls Council has endorsed the suspension of the city’s town clerk Mr Ronnie Dube on allegations of corruption with internal investigations set to commence and be completed by 23 December.
The council resolved and adopted the suspension during a full council meeting held at the City’s chambers on Tuesday.
Speaking to the media soon after the meeting, Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Prince Thuso Moyo confirmed the resolution saying further comments will come after the investigations.
“The council has resolved and adopted the suspension of the Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube and to that effect, investigations are ongoing. Further comments will come after the investigations. We have notified the parent Ministry and they are aware. We expect investigations to be completed by 23 December,” said Clr Moyo.
According to the letter of suspension by the Mayor dated 2 December and addressed to the Mr Dube and copied to the District Development Coordinator and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Town Clerk Mr Dube faces allegations of abuse of office and corruption.
“In my capacity as the Mayor, I have received several complaints and allegations of abuse of office and corruption against yourself. In particular, it is alleged that you allocated or caused to be allocated stand 9615 to Priscilla Thabolo and stand 9945 to Portia Saritsoze without following Council procedures.
“It is alleged that the above two have a relationship with you. It is further alleged that you awarded a contract to Cascade Engineering Consultants for overseeing a contract management without following the tender processes and, it is alleged that you sold and transferred stand 1829 Chinotimba Township and Council did not receive payment for the same and the sale was not procedurally done,” said Clr Moyo.
He said as a result of the above allegations amongst others, he suspends the town clerk with immediate effect and the suspension is in terms of 5139 of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15. The suspension was adopted by council on Tuesday.
Director of Communication and Advocacy in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Mr Gabriel Masvora said the Town Clerk is the employee of council and the council can resolve to suspend him/her if it is done above board.
Addressing the media soon after the announcement of the suspension, Victoria Falls Combined Residents Associations Chairperson Mr Kelvin Moyo said they will appreciate if the resolution was done above board and service delivery remains key to the residents.
“We have received information that the council has suspended the Town Clerk. We will appreciate if that is in sync with the law and they have done it in the procedural way, we would be happy. What is key to us as residents is service delivery and we do not really care much on who occupies which position,” said Mr Moyo.
