Zimpapers Logo

Chronicle Reporters
BULAWAYO’S new Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube will start work on October 1, Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo said yesterday. The Local Government Board recently approved the appointment of Mr Dube (55) as the new Town Clerk of Bulawayo. Mr Dube, who was Victoria Falls Town Clerk, replaces Mr Middleton Nyoni who died in September last year. Clr Moyo said Mr Dube requested some time before he starts his new job in Bulawayo.

“Mr Dube is our new Town Clerk and he will start work on October 1. He told us that he needs to wind up business before he comes to Bulawayo and we agreed. In the meantime we will work with our acting Town Clerk Mrs Sikhangele Zhou,” said Clr Moyo while addressing journalists at a media consultative meeting organised by the municipality yesterday.

Mr Dube beat the city’s Chamber Secretary, Mrs Zhou, and former Tsholotsho Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Ronnie Dube and Hwange Colliery Company finance manager Mr Gift Sibanda to claim the post.

Meanwhile, Victoria Falls Municipality is hunting for Mr Dube’s successor. Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Sifiso Mpofu said Mr Dube was serving his three-month notice before he leaves the local authority hence the need to immediately scout for a replacement.

“It’s confirmed that the Town Clerk is going to Bulawayo and we have to replace him as soon as possible. He is already serving his notice of three months and naturally we have to look for someone else,” said Clr Mpofu.

He said it will be difficult to find a perfect replacement for an innovative man like Mr Dube, whose ideas had put Victoria Falls town on a developmental track. “We have to really engage somebody who will fit into his (Mr Dube) shoes. Of course his departure has some effects on us as a council because he was innovative and brought progressive ideas but as people we have to develop professionally,” said the mayor.

“An opportunity opened for him to a big city like Bulawayo and we wouldn’t have continued holding onto him because he has to grow professionally. We will miss him and we wish him well hoping that Bulawayo will welcome him warmly.”

Victoria Falls municipality is also seeking to employ a new treasurer who will replace the incumbent Mr Thembinkosi Khumalo who retires at the end of this year. The council’s bid to appoint a town treasurer without advertising for the post was recently rejected by the Local Government Board, which ordered the local authority to follow procedure.