Chinhoyi councillors, mayor clash over town clerk suspension

Source: Chinhoyi councillors, mayor clash over town clerk suspension -Newsday Zimbabwe

Chinhoyi councillors two weeks ago passed a resolution to suspend town clerk Maxwell Kaitano for alleged “gross incompetence” during a full council meeting, but the mayor has blocked the move triggering a fierce fight.

Ward 9 councillor David Malunga (CCC) moved a motion to have Kaitano suspended and was seconded by ward 11 councillor Voster Mashevedzana (Zanu PF). But mayor Owen Charuza (CCC) who was not part of the full council meeting convened a special meeting last week and refused to endorse the suspension citing some irregularities in coming up with the resolution.

 “I will not write a letter to suspend the town clerk as the councilors resolved. That resolution is null and void as it violates the Urban Councils Act. According to section 139 subsection 3,  I am supposed to fire the town clerk then notify the councillors not for them to make a resolution. Town clerks are not fired by resolutions,”explained Charuza.

CCC councillors are now up in arms with their mayor whom they accuse of betrayal. At a special meeting, Charuza said the town clerk will be given a second chance admitting that service delivery is at its worst in Chinhoyi.

 Some CCC councilors felt betrayed by their mayor.

“We did our part because we felt service delivery was pathetic and it was the town clerk who is to blame as he is failing to supervise heads of departments who are sleeping on duty,”said one councillor who refused to be named for fear of victimization.

The councillor dismissed allegations  that the move to suspend the town clerk was triggered by his refusal to allocate them residential stands on State land.

 “That’s a lie, we never discussed about residential stands we are entitled to.We are just focusing on service delivery for now. There are people who are trying to politicize the town clerk’s suspension,” said another councillor.

Contacted for comment on plans to suspend him, Kaitano referred all questions to the mayor.