via Mahachi ‘birth records forgery’ saga: Harare divided. NEWSDAY 19 June 2014
National, News
HARARE City Council is divided over the way to handle town clerk Tendai Mahachi’s alleged forgery of documents amid reports that there is intense jostling for the top post ahead of the expiry of the council boss’ one-year performance-based contract early next year.
STAFF REPORTER
Acting mayor Thomas Muzuva said if the allegations of the forgery of birth records were proved true, it would be tricky to terminate Mahachi’s contract as he was still serving a one-year performance-based contract. He said council would only decide what to do when the contract expires.
But impeccable Town House sources said that other councillors were baying for Mahachi’s head basing on the exposé by NewsDay yesterday that he allegedly tinkered with his date of birth possibly to escape the staff rationalisation process currently underway at Town House targeting those above the age of 60.
Council records show that Mahachi is 58, having been born in November 1956, while a copy of his passport seen by NewsDay revealed that he would turn 64 in November this year as he was born in November 1950.
“The mayor signed a contract that stated he was born in 1956 and he was 57 years old. We are relying on what was written on his contract and copies of the ID signed by the mayor,” Muzuva said.
Quizzed whether he had seen the copies of the ID himself, Muzuva said: “It is the mayor who signed the contract and I think he is the best person to talk to on that one.
“I think the people who are bringing this out are people who are offended and are saying since we left because we are over 60, he should also go.”
He said council was likely to wait until Mahachi’s contract expired before deciding on his future at Town House.
Sources at Town House said there was no unanimity regarding the way forward on the Mahachi issue with others saying he must go as he had lied about his age.
But the deputy mayor, believed to be fighting in the town clerk’s corner, accused others of wanting to replace Mahachi with their “proxies”.
“We have a policy that says all above the age of 60 must go, so why keep someone who is above 60? He must go, but the deputy mayor seems to be fighting on his side,” a source said.
COMMENTS
If a contract is obtained for a beneficiary (Mahachi) by knowingly using fraudulent documents to prove eligibility where eligibility does not in fact exist, then that contract cannot be enforced by the beneficiary.
There would seem to be no legal reason to honor the contract, if the city council does not wish to do so.
Fire him. Zimbabwe had become totally lawless. The whole government should have been fired long ago. Now us zimbo’s accept all manner of crime in high places. lawlessness has become the norm; no wonder God is judging us!