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Chitungwiza probes CCC councillors

CCC Councillors already on the ropes, a few days after being elected

BY PHILEMON JAMBAYA

Newly elected Chitungwiza councillors have to wait a bit longer for them to be sworn amid indication the Minister of Local Government and Public works July Moyo has ordered an investigation targeting mostly to Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillors who are said to be facing criminal charges.

Chitungwiza and Manyame Residents Association (CAMERA) Brighton Mazhindu castigated the move, labelling it retrogressive.

At least 26 councillors and officials from Harare and Chitungwiza have been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission in the last two years and their cases are at various stages in the courts.

“We hear there is an investigation team at Chitungwiza Municipality head office .This could be the eighth team to be dispatched but all the investigation teams have made recommendations which both the Ministry and Council have not implemented. We see it as “jobs for the boys,” Mazhindu said.

“Previous commissions have left Council failing to pay its workers and provide quality service delivery after they drew huge allowances from the struggling local authority,” Mazhindu added.

Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST) Director Alice Kuveya equated the investigations to victimisation.

“The minister must stop threatening our councillors with suspensions following their writing to the Acting Town Clerk (Evangelist) Machona demanding the holding of the elections after following all procedures for the elections to be held,” said Kuveya.

An insider who declined to be named added: “This is a way of fighting councillors who have been returned by the people. We are fully aware of their plan to appoint the (Zanu PF) Deputy Mayor as the substantive Mayor of Chitungwiza.”

Most councillors were re-elected on 26 March after they were recalled by the MDC Alliance President Douglas Mwonzora who ended up losing dismally in the by election.

Effort to get a comment from Chitungwiza Council authorities proved fruitless as the town spokesperson Lovemore Meya referred all questions to the acting Mayor and acting Town Clerk who did not respond to messages and phone by the time of writing.

CCC councillors have flown into a storm, only days after being elected into office during March 26 by-elections

Elsewhere, newly elected CCC Councillor for Chipinge Town Council’s Ward Eight, Chrispen Rambu, was arrested for allegedly fondling a woman’s breast at a polling station during a scuffle

The complainant, Jenipher Mpofu who is a member of ZANU PF in Chipinge District, told the court that Rambu grabbed her by the collar and tried to get a book from Ms Mpofu, but she resisted and in the process he allegedly fondled her breasts and shoved her to the ground.

In Mutare, newly elected Mutare Urban ward 13 councilor under the Nelson Chamisa led Citizens Coalition for Change – Monica Mukwada –is facing electoral fraud charges.

Mukwada appeared before Mutare Magistrate Langton Mukwengi for allegedly making a false statement regarding her home address.

In Harare, former Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba is prohibited from setting foot at Town House as part of strict bail conditions relating to a charge which he is facing that is before the Harare Magistrates Court.

With several councillors out on bail for several offences, many will find it difficult to execute their duties.