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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected] 

THE  City of Bulawayo town clerk  Christopher Dube’s term has been extended beyond the initial four-year contract, aligning with the legislative changes under the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. 

The resolution to extend the town clerk’s tenure of office was reached on February 7.

The council’s decision to extend Dube’s tenure, according to Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor David Coltart, is an endorsement of his  leadership and the council’s dedication to the advancement of key city projects. Initially slated to stepd down in  September, Dube’s second term will now carry on until September next year, with the possibility of an additional year’s extension. 

This will be dependent on a performance evaluation in September next year and considerations regarding his age in relation to the mandated retirement age.

Mayor  Coltart said they were motivated by a new act of Parliament, the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10:31) (No. 4/2018), promulgated in 2018 which fixed the employment tenure of the chief executive officers of Public Entities.

“The Town Clerk of the City of Bulawayo, Mr Dube was recruited and engaged in October, 2016 on a four-year term limit contract up to September 2020 and the contract was subject to renewal dependent on performance. The contract was fixed at two four-year terms. The initial contract expired in September, 2020 and it was renewed in October of the same year (2020) and it expires in September, 2024.

“However, a new Act of Parliament, the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10:31) (No. 4/2018), promulgated in 2018,  fixed the employment tenure of the chief executive officers of Public Entities at two five-year terms. The status of Town Clerks falls under the chief executive officers of Public Entities,” said Clr Coltart.

Section 17 of the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act says notwithstanding any other enactment, no person shall be appointed as chief executive officer of a public entity- (a) for a term longer than five years, which term may be renewed for only one further such term; (b) if he or she has already served as chief executive officer of the entity for one or more periods, whether consecutive or not, amounting in the aggregate to 10 years; (c) unless the appointment is reviewable annually by the entity’s board and terminable if, after such a review, the board finds that the appointee’s performance has not met the standards laid down in the appointee’s performance contract or any other instrument regulating his or her employment.

It further states that provided that no chief executive officer shall, even if his or her performance has met such standards, be re-appointed after the 10th annual review unless the President’s approval of the re-appointment is obtained.

“The tenure of the chief executive officers of Public Entities is provided for under Part IV –Section 17 of the above cited Act (and) council, satisfied with Mr Dube’s performance, and the desire to see continuity in a number of high impact projects already running, resolved to give Mr Dube an additional two years in line with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10:31). The renewal for the first additional year will be in October 2024 and expiring on the 30th September 2025. 

“The renewal for a second year will be however, determined by a performance review which will be conducted in September 2025 and also determined by his age vis-a-vis the statutory retirement age,” said Mayor Coltart.