MASVINGO residents are demanding an explanation from the city council after the local authority was implicated in several corruption scandals by Auditor-General Mildred Chiri.
EMMANUEL CHITSIKA
In her audit report on Local Authorities for the year ended 2019, Chiri revealed a string of irregularities at Masvingo City Council dating back to 2016.
These include some vehicles which had registration books on file but could not be located.
“In addition, there were some motor vehicles, which were not recorded in the fixed assets register. On inquiry, council management did not provide satisfactory explanations on the existence of these motor vehicles and completeness of the asset register thereof,” Chiri said.
Among the revelations is that ZW$500 000 gained through council-leased property could not be accounted for.
“A list of all leased properties compiled during the audit fieldwork was incomplete as it did not include some of the properties being rented. Consequently there was a variance of $520 653 between the recomputed lease rental balance (ZW$167 190) and the ledger balance (ZW$687 843),” Chiri said.
The report further highlighted that a manipulation of the receipting system had prejudiced the council of ZW$78 000. Chiri also noted that the local authority was struggling to provide water. She reported that sewage was spilling into suburbs and nearby river streams. Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said residents had given the city fathers an ultimatum to provide a full explanation on the situation at town house.
“We are extremely angered by this high level of corruption at council whereby we are duped of our hard-earned cash by corrupt officials,” Mtimba said.
“As ratepayers we demand a full explanation in the next few days on the situation at council. We need to know the stages at which the so-called investigations are at, what will happen to who and when.”
Mtimba bemoaned lack of seriousness on the part of council management which has resulted in the town facing perennial poor service delivery in terms of road maintenance, waste management and refuse collection.
“We demand transparency, accountability and urge council to ensure they respect us as residents by ensuring that they properly use our hard-earned cash towards a proper service delivery system,” he added.
Masvingo council has of late been experiencing a host of challenges hindering effective service delivery which has resulted in poor waste management, failure to maintain public toilets and non-collection of rubbish. Former mayor Hubert Fidze refused to comment, referring questions to current mayor Collen Maboke. Mayor Maboke distanced himself from any wrongdoing, saying most of the “crimes” were committed before he came into office.
“Most of these issues, we don’t know much about them. Our council came into office in 2018 and our committee came into effect after September 2018,” said Maboke.
The audit revealed that fuel was not being properly accounted for at the local authority. Maboke however, said the issue of fraud involving fuel withdrawals has already been dealt with and the matter was now in court.
“Those involved in the fuel scam were identified and dismissed from council though they have since appealed and the case is now at the criminal court at Masvingo magistrates’ court,” explained Maboke.
Service delivery has deteriorated sharply, with the council at some point giving residents half-treated water, a development which led to suspension of two senior workers including town engineer Tawanda Gozo.
The then acting town clerk Edward Mukaratirwa had to borrow three tonnes of aluminum sulphate from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to use at the treatment plant.
Gozo is serving his six months suspension and being charged with gross incompetence in the engineering department.
“Investigations are over on Gozo’s case and soon he will appear before the disciplinary committee. On other issues, I cannot comment much because we were not yet in office when the alleged corruption was done. I think it will be best for those who were in office then to comment,” said Maboke.
