Harare locks out HR Director Chingombe

Zim Now Writer

The Harare City Council (HCC) maintains that its suspended Human Capital Director Cainos Chingombe, who had resumed duties, cannot return to work with the local authority locking him out.

This comes as Chingombe had returned to his office, writing a memo to staff in the Human Capital Department as well as other sectional heads, informing them of his return.

“I hereby advise that I have resumed my normal duties as your Human Capital Director. Please be guided accordingly,” Chingombe wrote in his memo of November 22, 2022.

However, Council shot back, responding through Acting Chamber Secretary, Engineer Phakamile Mabhena Moyo, arguing that Chingombe’s “purported resumption of duty is a blatant violation” of a Council resolution of 20 October, 2022.

Moyo also cites a 14 September letter from the Local Government Board for Council’s stance on Chingombe’s return to HCC.

Reads part of the letter from the Acting Chamber Secretary to Chingombe: “IN reference thereto, please be advised that my letter to you dated 15 November, 2022 still stands, as such you are ordered to stop reporting for duty with immediate effect, pending the commencement and finalisation of the negotiation process. You will be invited to the negotiations within the next three days.”

The letter, which was also copied to The Mayor and Head Public Safety, goes on to instruct the latter to secure the office.

Chingombe was suspended in 2017 over allegations of abuse of office and has been fighting for reinstatement, winning several judgments at the Labour Court.

Early in November this year, Harare regional magistrate Vongai Guwiriro acquitted Chingombe and his co-accused Tendai Kwenda, were acquitted of criminal abuse of office as public officers and theft of trust property charges.

They had been accused of misappropriating funds meant for the provision of water, sanitation, education and recreational services and bought themselves top-of-the range cars.

Chingombe and Kwenda were accused of transferring US$130 000 and US$70 000 respectively from the council’s Traditional Beer Levy Account into their bank accounts and using the money to buy top-of-the range cars.

Following his suspension in 2017, Chingombe was reinstated in November last year before being fired a few months later. The Harare City Council lost the labour case he brought against it.