- Council loses ZWL80 million
- Forensic audit to be carried out
- Council moots one payroll
CHITUNGWIZA mayor Lovemore Maiko on Wednesday held a meeting to review anomalies revealed in a snap audit report which led to council losing millions of dollars.
Maiko said a police report had been made against those involved in the alleged scam.
“Those found guilty will face the wrath of the law,” Maiko said.
In the meeting, the Chitungwiza Resident and Ratepayers Association said they had engaged the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Committee to help in the matter.
The audit committee said those implicated in the audit report would be placed under immediate suspension until cleared of all charges.
The audit committee chairperson, one councillor Nyagodo, revealed that a full forensic audit would be conducted.
The audit is expected to shed more light on the operations of council,” Nyagodo said.
He added that the forensic audit would help “re-write, re-direct and re-focus the story of Chitungwiza”.
The municipality also deliberated on instituting public interest litigation and private prosecution in order to recover misappropriated funds.
The Chitungwiza Community Development Network was tasked to lead the process.
According to the council, those found guilty would have to compensate for the resources they fraudulently awarded themselves.
Meanwhile, Maiko revealed that all workers would come under one payroll.
This he said would help thwart financial mismanagement by individuals.
“It is sad that some are working hard but without being paid while others are looting the council’s resources. Over ZWL80 million has been lost to individuals while the majority is suffering,” Maiko noted.
Among the stakeholders present were Chitungwiza Progressive Resident Association, Chitungwiza and Manyame Resident Association and the Chitungwiza Municipality Workers’ Union.
