The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
THE arrest of Chipinge town secretary, Susan Dube, over criminal abuse of duty charges has divided the local authority, with some councilors calling for her suspension, while others are saying they should wait until the finalisation of the case.
Dube was this week dragged to court on Monday and Wednesday over two abuse of duty charges. She applied for leave soon after her release.
On Wednesday, the city fathers convened a virtual meeting to deliberate on Dube’s fate and resolved that she should write a detailed report outlining the charges she is facing.
In an interview, Ward Three Councilor Sarah Mudhuli said some councilors want Dube suspended, while the others are saying the law should take its course.
“We were calling for Dube’s suspension until the finalisation of her court cases, but some of our colleagues objected. Residents have brought to our attention a number of irregularities at the council and we wanted her suspension to pave way for further probing of these issues. Among the thorny issues is favouritism in the allocation of stands and a free for all situation obtaining at the council.
“The council is being run like a tuck-shop and money changers have the guts of swiping in our revenue collection halls in exchange of foreign currency with the assistance of insiders.
‘‘Yet no action was being taken,” said Councilor Mudhuli.
Ward Six Councilor Lovemore Mkwapati chipped in to say the councillors held a virtual meeting but failed to agree on what course of action to take on Dube.
“Some said we should appoint an acting secretary and names were forwarded, but this was shot down by other councilors.”
The town chairperson, Councilor Zivanai Nyakuchena said they are waiting for Dube’s report to take appropriate action.
“We came up with a resolution that the town secretary should give us a report on the allegations she is facing so that we reconvene and chart the way forward,” he said.
In the first charge, Dube is alleged to have abused her office to allocate a 1 000 square metre residential stand to an undeserving trainee.
Dube, who is being represented by Mr Langton Mhungu of Mhungu and Associates, appeared before Chipinge provincial magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira, and was granted $20 000 bail.
Prosecuting, Mr Timothy Katsande, said Dube employed Janson Mhlanga on October 31, 2018 as a graduate trainee.
On January 8, 2020, Mhlanga allegedly applied for a stand and was allocated a stand measuring 1 000 square metres.
Although the local authority has a staff quota benefit scheme which is enjoyed by permanent employees, Mhlanga did not qualify as he falls under contract workers.
Under the staff quota housing scheme, staff members buy the stands at 40 percent of the market value.
In the second abuse of office charge, Dube is being jointly charged with the town’s water and waste superintendent, Jefrey Mwakachieyi.
It is alleged the two connived to take PVC pipes from the council workshop and connected water to Dube’s Kenilworth Farm. Prosecuting, Mr Timothy Katsande said Dube applied to have domestic water connected to her plot from Chipinge Town Council.
“On January 2020, the application was approved by council with conditions that Dube was supposed to supply her own water connection material as well as pay for the labour.
“Soon after the approval of the application, Dube, working in cahoots with Mwakachiyi, took 71X32mm PVC pipes valued at US$639 from Chipinge Town Council’s storeroom and used them to connect water from the main line at Chipinge Farm Prison,” said Mr Katsande.
The two accused persons were ordered to pay $20 000 bail and will be back in court on March 26.
