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Minister Saviour Kasukuwere

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Saviour Kasukuwere is set to visit Zvishavane following allegations of corruption and infighting at the MDC-T run Town Council.

The Minister told The Chronicle yesterday that there were a lot of issues that needed to be investigated at the local authority so that residents are not affected in terms of service delivery.

“Yes, I am descending on Zvishavane Town Council most probably next week,” said the Minister.

“What I can tell you at this stage is that there are a lot of areas of concern at Zvishavane especially concerning governance.”

Recently, the town council suspended town secretary, Tinoda Mukutu, for alleged insubordination after he allegedly dithered on implementing several council resolutions.

The Director of Housing, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, has since been appointed acting town secretary.

One of the council resolutions Mukutu is accused to have not implemented is the suspension of the director of finance George Jongoni over allegations of alleged abuse of council funds.

In a letter to Mukutu, council chairman Esau Gwatipedza Dube accused the suspended town secretary of continuously defying councillors’ instructions and orders.

“Acting in terms of Section 139 3(a) of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15, it has appeared to the chairman of the Zvishavane Town Council that you have continuously been defying my instructions and orders of the council inter alia allegations, to the extent that I found it fit and desirable to act in terms of Section 3 (a) of the said Act and I therefore suspend you from office forthwith and you are required to leave Zvishavane Town Council office  forthwith,” reads part of the letter.

Mukutu confirmed his suspension to The Chronicle but was quick to indicate that he was going back to work soon.