52 apply for Redcliff Town Clerk post

AT least 52 candidates have applied for the vacant position of town clerk for Redcliff Municipality which was advertised last month.

This comes at a time when the local authority is also seeking permission to retrench 50 workers. The post of town clerk fell vacant after Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza left to join Gweru City Council where she has occupied the same position. She replaced Mr Daniel Matawu who was fired for incompetence among other charges. Redcliff Mayor Councillor Fred Kapuya said the Municipality had received overwhelming response for the advertised post.

“We recently advertised the post of town clerk which fell vacant following the departure of Ms Gwatipedza who joined Gweru City Council. The closing date for applications was 10 July. We had an overwhelming response. We received 52 applications,” he said.

Mr Kapuya said short-listing of candidates would be done on Thursday ahead of interviews slated for 20 July.

“We are hoping that we would do the selection process on Thursday next week before short listing candidates who would have met the requirements. We will then submit the applicants to the ministry and we are hoping that we would have interviews on 20 July. The local Government Board has the mandate to appoint the town clerk,” he said.

On retrenchment, Clr Kapuya said the local authority had approached the Government seeking approval to retrench over 50 workers by the end of this month as part of a staff rationalisation process. The local authority, which is grappling with workers’ salary arrears for its 234 workforce, believes the move to retrench will significantly reduce the wage bill.