MUTARE – Former Zanu PF Mutasa South Member of Parliament Irene Zindi is among 43 candidates that have submitted applications for the Town Clerk vacancy at Mutare City Council, Zim Morning Post has established.
The local authority is seeking a new Town Clerk who is expected to turn around the fortunes of a city, facing heavy criticism over corruption involving senior managers and councillors which has adversely affected service delivery.
The Town Clerk will replace the late Joshua Maligwa who succumbed to Covid-19 in January this year.
According to key requisites, the Mutare City Council is looking for a person with more than 10 years demonstrable and proven experience in a local government environment.
The candidate must be above 35 years and possess a degree in Administration, Law, Accountancy, Social Sciences, Engineering or any relevant degree.
The aspiring candidate must have a post-graduate qualification in Business Administration and Public Sector Management.
The Mutare Mayor Blessing Tandi recently confirmed that the number of applicants were 43, although did not divulge names.
“We are happy and overwhelmed by the applications. This clearly shows that the Mutare City Council is now marketable. It shows that it is now a big institution,” said Tandi.
Zim Morning Post is reliably informed that former Mutare City Council commissioner Irene Zindi submitted her application.
Some candidates tipped for the top job include Christian Sithole who previously came out tops in two interviews of the same post conducted in 2016, but was not appointed due to yet to be disclosed reasons.
However, Maligwa was subsequently appointed.
Sithole was the former Chief Committee Officer at Mutare City Council and was forced to resign after falling out of favour with Maligwa.
Another interested candidate is former Mutare City Council Chamber Secretary Cephas Vhuta.
He also clashed with Maligwa over administrative decisions and at one time reports said that the two almost traded blows over administrative disagreements.
Vhuta tendered his resignation in 2019.
Mutara is also interested in the top job.
Mutare City Council Housing Director Emma Mandiziba also applied for the job.
Former Town Clerk Obert Muzawazi is said to be vying for the same post as he is arguing that his resignation from council under duress after falling out of favour with former Minister of State For Manicaland Province Mandi Chimene.
Former Chamber Secretary Lovemore Chitima and former Human Resources Manager Aaron Chemvura also threw in their applications.
Mutare ratepayers are looking forward to a strategic Town Clerk who has the heart and pace to change the council and city.
The local authority’s director of health services Antony Mutara is currently acting Town Clerk.
