Town clerk seeks Govt protection
BULAWAYO Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube who is under fire from councillors, has written to the Government seeking protection and calling on the responsible ministry to stop the city fathers from interfering with his work.
Mr Dube who was a couple of weeks ago given a 30-day ultimatum to implement key council resolutions or face the chop, reportedly wrote to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to seek guidance on the issues being raised by the councillors.
In giving the town clerk the 30-day ultimatum, councillors accused him among other things, shutting out investors and making potential investors lose confidence in the city’s call for investment. However, in the latest development, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry Permanent Secretary, Mr George Magosvongwe in response to Mr Dube’s letter, expressed concern over the friction between the councillors and the town clerk, saying it was the town clerk’s duty to inform councillors on the provisions of the new Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.
“I am concerned about what appears to be vested interests on the part of councillors in the procurement processes of council. I wish to remind Bulawayo city that the new Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act directs a procuring authority to establish Procurement Management Unit which is approved by the Procurement Regulatory Authority.
“Any attempt by any person — official and councillor — to influence the PMU is ultra vires and will not be tolerated under the new order. Councillors have no part to play in the procurement process. I expect you to inform the council of the new Act and its contents and caution them against any further interference in procurement processes,” reads part of the letter from the permanent secretary.
However, councillors who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were not throwing in the towel, accusing Mr Dube of rushing to the ministry as a means to justify his cowardice.
“The , inistry got a one-sided story, which is just according to the town clerk. What he forgot to tell the ministry is that what we did is not a procurement matter but just land alienation which is not catered for under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.
“The problem with Mr Dube is that he takes us councillors for granted, for some reason he thinks we are not aware of key legal provisions.
“We have been trying to let him see the light for some time but he seems to be stubborn. Anyway we are in the process of writing to the ministry to clarify the matter and we are certain the town clerk will be left with egg on his face,” said one councillor.
The councillors further insisted that the 30-day ultimatum remained in place, saying the town clerk should stand guided to avoid embarrassment.
“We are talking of development and if anyone is seen to be working against development, we will surely not allow him to remain on the council payroll.”
According to a council confidential report, the councillors accused the town clerk of stalling development in the city through failure of implementing key council resolutions
“We have observed with great concern the gross inefficiency in council operations in view of the February 2017 investment prospectus and Harry Allen golf course town house development. Of particular concern is the unacceptable and anti-development pace with which various development opportunities have been handled.
“We lay this blame on the town clerk for failure to fulfil his functions as prescribed in the Urban Councils Act.
“Some of the negative effects of this inefficiency are, slowing down development of the city, shutting out investment, making potential investors lose confidence in the city’s call for investment, denies locals and ratepayers job opportunities and makes a mockery of councillors’ capacity to run the city and foster development,” reads the report.