The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
CHIIPINGE Town Council secretary Susan Dube was on Thursday found not guilty on the two criminal abuse of office charges she was facing in court.
Another council worker – Jeffrey Mwakachiyeyi, a water superintendent – who was jointly charged with Dube in one of the cases was also acquitted.
Presiding over the matter, Chipinge magistrate Mr Frankly Mkwananzi said the accusations against Dube were unsubstantial.
In the first count, Dube was accused of illegally offering an intern a residential stand.
However, Mr Mkwananzi said the local authority’s policy was not clear and open to a multiplicity of interpretations as it spelt out that all employees are entitled to benefits.
“The condition of service says all and the key word there is “all”. Therefore, the intern is an employee of the council. The housing policy of the council says permanent workers and does not in any way exclude non-permanent workers. As such, the intern was entitled to benefit a stand because he or she spent two years on industrial attachment,” he said.
In the second count, Dube allegedly took PVC pipes worth US$639 from her employer for personal use at her Kenilworth Farm.
In his ruling, Mr Mkwananzi said proper procedure was followed as she paid the water connection fee and presented a proof of payment.
Mr Thulani Zondwayo prosecuted.
Dube was arrested sometime in February by ZACC officials after being accused of corruption.
