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The local board was mandated to spearhead the growth of the centre into a fully-fledged town.
However, lack of capital has reportedly hampered progress and the local board still has an acting secretary.

There were reports that some people within the local board were not happy that it was taking too long to fill the vacant posts of secretary, treasurer and auditor, which are critical in the day-to-day administration of a town.

The board was supposed to hold a meeting yesterday to discuss the issue as the contracts of most members of staff have reportedly expired.
Mr Roy Moyo is acting secretary and there are reports that all is not well as some officials feel he is not qualified for the job and want the post filled by a qualified person.

In an interview yesterday, board chairman Mr Christopher Chuma who is also the District Administrator for Lupane said there was no money to employ a substantive secretary and fill other posts.

He was quick to dismiss as untrue reports that there were divisions within the board regarding the vacant posts.
“Yes we were supposed to meet but the meeting failed to take place because the CEO Mr Mhlaseli Mpofu had a problem and could not come. It is not true that we are operating with an unqualified secretary because he holds a degree.

“There is no money yet to employ a substantive secretary. The staff that works at the local board was seconded to the board by the Government to kick start operations. The person who is said to be unqualified for the job, Mr Moyo was an executive officer in administration at KRDC and was seconded to make sure we start building the town,”said Mr Chuma.

Inside sources said the contracts of most members of staff expired on 7 April.
“The town needs to engage permanent members of staff and this should start with the secretary. The position of secretary needs somebody who has a degree,” said a source.

Mr Chuma could not be drawn into confirming the expiry of contracts of members of staff.

“We feel we are now at the stage of advertising these vacant posts especially the deputy treasurer, secretary and auditor. We have filled the treasurer’s post because handling money is not an easy job and we wanted to have a substantive person in place,” he said.

The five commissioners making up the board are Mr Chuma as chairman, Mr Sifiso Velani (finance), Mr Clarence Ndlela, Ms Sithembile Gumbo and Mr John Robert Khumalo.

The commissioners were appointed in 2009 to facilitate share of assets between the new town and the KRDC.