GCC suspends corrupt workers

According to the service delivery inquiry report released on July 23 and compiled by a committee led by Councillor Albert Chirau which included councillors, members of the residents’ association and staff from the local authority, the water and sewer drawings that were prepared by Mr Kunaka and Mr Maposa were not supervised.

The report further notes that the designs were subject to self review leading to unsuccessful implementation by private developer Tinshel properties and Construction as the water lines had some back flows.

“Other examples of these back flows noted by the audit during the physical inspections include Woodlands and Ascot Extension projects. Poor designs resulted in substandard engineering works in sewer reticulation and outbreak of water borne diseases in the city suburbs,” reads part of the report.

The report notes that the corporate image of the city of Gweru might be affected when its employees are contracted without supervision and approval of the council. “There was also loss of revenue by the city council in building plan approval,” reads the report.

Mr Emmanuel Chidaushe of Tinshel Properties, one of the affected private land developers, said they invested a lot of money in designs thinking it was the local authority they were dealing with only to realise that there were individuals allegedly going behind the local authority. “We went to the town house and there was Mr Thomas Kunaka and Mr Benford Maposa. So we engaged them thinking it was above board only to realise that they were duping us. We are grateful that we are now on the same level with the council and the problem is being rectified,” he said. A 56-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed 18 years for raping and impregnating his neighbour’s 13-year-old daughter.

Misheck Ndlovu of Mpisini Resettlement in Esigodini pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira, but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence. He was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and three years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

Prosecuting, Mr Mncedisi Dube said Ndlovu raped the juvenile on separate occasions in May while she was on her way from the borehole.

“On 30 May at around 1PM the complainant left home to fetch water from the borehole. Ndlovu found her pumping water from the borehole and offered to assist her. After the complainant’s buckets were full Ndlovu loaded them onto a wheel barrow and offered to push it for her as they were going the same direction.

“Along the way Ndlovu dragged the complainant into a bush, covered her mouth with his hand to stop her from screaming. Ndlovu raped the complainant once and warned her against reporting the matter,” he said.

Mr Dube said on the following day at around 10AM the complainant went to fetch water from the borehole and on her way back she rested underneath a tree. He said Ndlovu emerged from a bush, dragged the complainant into a bush and raped once and warned her against reporting the matter.

The matter was reported to the police resulting in Ndlovu’s arrest.

In his defence Ndlovu had denied raping the juvenile. He said on the dates he is alleged to have committed the offence he had travelled to visit a relative. — @DubeMatutu