Council to challenge town clerk decision Tribunal team demands $30k each
HARARE City Council is considering challenging a decision by the Local Government Board ordering the city to conduct fresh interviews for the position of town clerk after the board rejected the three short-listed candidates.
The city is also contemplating appointing MDC-T politician Dr Tapiwa Mashakada as its new town clerk.
Dr Mashakada, who is Hatfield Member of Parliament and former economic advisor to the late MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was at the top of the submitted list.
This was after he emerged tops in interviews carried out last year.
He scored 1 534 points followed by Dr Cainos Chingombe with 1 394 and Mrs Elizabeth Gwatipedza with 1 228.
Sources at Town House revealed that committee chairpersons deliberated on the matter and came out with four scenarios.
“They are looking at four options. The first one being re-advertising the post, looking at both lists of applicants the one in which former banker Mr James Mushore emerged tops and the Dr Mashakada list then do a new shortlist,” said the source.
“The councillors are also considering doing a Mushore act again — going ahead with appointing Dr Mashakada despite the Local Government Board recommendations or challenge the board in court.”
Human Resources and General Purposes Committee chairperson councillor Wellington Chikombo yesterday said council will deliberate on the matter today.
“We will explore the best under the status quo,” he said.
Last week, Harare mayor Bernard THE tribunal tasked to investigate the alleged defiance by Harare City Council executives to cut salaries as per Government directive demanded to be paid $30 000 each, after taking five months to complete a month’s job, it has emerged.
The six-member tribunal which was chaired by retired High Court Judge Justice George Smith was given one month by council to complete investigations, but took five months to reproduce almost the same contents as the audit report sanctioned by the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry produced.
The probe was prompted by a Government audit which unearthed financial irregularities at Town House.
According to the audit, city executives continued to earn between $12 000 and $21 000 from October 2014 to June 2015, as opposed to $10 450 for the highest earner as stipulated by Government.
Officials who appeared before the tribunal alleged that the tribunal did not understand council procedures and Justice Smith, who was said to be
Manyenyeni said the LGB was not satisfied with the selection and requested that the position be re-advertised.
“I have received communication from the LGB that they are not happy with the three candidates and they have requested fresh interviews for the position. It is back to square one. This was after more than 30 months without a town clerk,” Clr Manyenyeni said. chairing the tribunal was not really in it and at times walked out of proceedings.
This was also evidenced by his failure to present the findings delegating lawyer Mr Piwai Chiutsi, the secretary of the tribunal.
According to the recent minutes of the Finance and Development Committee, the tribunal demanded to be paid $6 000 per month each translating
Mayor Manyenyeni is on record saying it was his wish to have the post filled.
“We are going to bring finality to this matter one way or the other,” he said last month.
He argues that the succession issue had been very disruptive as it had taken very strong political dimensions, personal overtones and vindictive treatment of issues since it started. to $30 000 per member since it had taken five months to complete investigations.
“The special tribunal had settled for $18 000 per member instead of $30 000 per member which he (Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni) felt would be steep given that they had gone into the exercise on the background of goodwill to the city. The secretary will add on to his fee an amount of $2 500 (stationery, printing, telephone),” read the minutes.
Mayor Manyenyeni asked councillors to waiver the current policy of council on payment of fees and increase the fees, but members of the committee expressed concern that it was not in compliance with the city’s policy.
As members were divided on the matter councillor Stewart Mutizwa moved a motion seconded by Alderman Samuel Chinyowa that the council policy on payment of fees to the special tribunal on executive remuneration be increased to $12 000.
After a lengthy discussion on the matter, the committee expressed concern over the failure by the tribunal to submit report as per agreed time frame and agreed to pay the tribunal $12 000 each.
In 2016, council appointed Mr Mushore to the post of town clerk, but just a few hours after council announced his appointment Government rescinded the decision because the local authority flouted procedures of appointment as laid out in the Urban Councils Act.
Since then successive efforts to fill the position have been elusive with council clashing with the LGB.