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Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
GOKWE Town councillors have turned down a directive from the Local Government Board to reinstate the town’s former director of finance, Joconia Nyoni who was fired two years ago.
Nyoni was facing allegations of criminal abuse of office.
He was accused of fleecing the local authority of more than US$200 000 by flouting procurement and tender procedures while allegedly working with the then Town Secretary Melania Mandeya who has since been relieved of her duties.

Nyoni and Mandeya also appeared before the courts facing fraud charges for the said offence.
The matter is still before the courts.

Among a raft of charges, Nyoni in connivance with Mandeya, is said to have directly procured a 10KVA/10KWA solar power system from Nerenchia Power Rite Company on a fix and supply basis for Gokwe Town Council.

During the procurement procedure, council was allegedly quoted US$14 792,50 by the said company. Nyoni, however, went on to pay $325 435, using an unofficial foreign currency exchange rate, thereby favouring the said company and prejudicing council of large sums of money.

Some solar panels reportedly went missing soon after purchase.
This led to the local authority councillors to write to the Local Government Board recommending that Nyoni be relieved of his duties in February 2020.

In September this year, however, the Local Government Board exonerated Nyoni and ordered the local authority to reinstate him with benefits.
“The board, through a resolution, turned down the councillors’ application for Mr Joconia Nyoni’s dismissal and decided that council reinstate him with full benefits,” read part of the letter from the Local Government Board.

In its findings, the board said Nyoni was not in a position to make his own decisions. It said Nyoni did everything above board and thus should be reinstated with full benefits.
However, Gokwe Town Council chairperson, Councillor Never Gwanzura said councillors and residents alike will never allow him back at the local authority.

“He fleeced council and residents of their hard-earned money converting it to his personal use. There was no development here when we came into office, there were only two vehicles for himself and for Mandeya. Council owed employees about 18 months’ salary arrears. That is how bad things were when we came in,” he said.

“We have made significant strides during his absence as we have purchased road making equipment, purchased service vehicles, and our audit is up to date. He has nothing to offer to council and we as council cannot accept him back after two years. We do not see the reason why we should take him back,” he said.

He said council stands ready to give Nyoni his dues but reinstating him was unacceptable.