Town secretary on forced leave

HWANGE Local Board Town Secretary Mr Ndumiso Mdlalose has been placed on forced leave pending an investigation into financial irregularities.

In a letter dated April 20, 2017 that was seen by The Chronicle, Mr Mdlalose has been ordered to go on forced leave for three months effective on the same date, on full pay and benefits pending an investigation into financial irregularities.

The letter read: “You are hereby advised that council as a special board that sat on the 19th of April 2017 resolved (SD/04/2017) that you be put on forced leave for a period of three months with immediate effect (20 April 2017) on full pay and benefits pending an investigation into financial irregularities.”

During that leave period, Mr Mdlalose has been banned from visiting the council premises.

The letter further read: “Please note that you may be requested to surrender any council property or documents that may be in your possession if such are deemed to be material in the probe. During the period of your leave you are barred from visiting the council premises or interfering with the investigations through communicating with council staff, clients and external stakeholders. You are also barred from entering or purport to represent council in any transaction. Your signing powers to council accounts are temporarily suspended until the finalisation of the investigations.

“Council undertakes to carry out and conclude the probe in the transparent manner.”

Board Chair Mr Cosmas Ndlovu confirmed the Town Secretary’s forced leave which bars him from participating in any of the local board’s activities.

“Council decided to put Mr Mdlalose on forced leave of three months for a transparent and smooth investigation process by the auditors without auditors feeling intimidated or whatsoever. We haven’t said anyone stole this amount of council money, but because some financial reports have not been provided for certain quarters, we need to investigate. It is now the Government’s statutory requirement that a quarterly report be presented to council and government,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said audit results are expected to be complete in two weeks. Mr Mdlalose declined to comment.

“Well, unfortunately, I’m not in a position to comment at the moment. Sorry,” he said. — @winne_masara