Makunde fate, replacement divides Chitungwiza Muni...

Makunde fate, replacement divides Chitungwiza Municipality

Resident challenges Chitungwiza municipality reinstatement of town clerk – The Zimbabwe Mail — George Makunde

Zim Now Writer

There was a heated debate in the council chambers at Chitungwiza Municipality Tuesday regarding the replacement of former town clerk George Makunde, with a section of councillors arguing his position could not be advertised because council still owes him his dues.

This motion was supported by a section led by Acting Mayor Kiven Mutimbanyoka and Acting Town Clerk Evangelista Machona. Ward One councillor Tichaona Muchakwa and his Ward 6 counterpart Tonderai Chiwanza however argued there was no need not to advertise given that Makunde is no longer a council employee.

Makunde was suspended in 2019 and subsequently fired in 2021 for incompetence.

“I was just feeling that let’s not have a situation whereby we end up having two town clerks. The advert is ready, but let them - general purpose committee - agree and call for a date where councillors, management and Makunde and his team will be there.

“You call Makunde and his lawyer. Immediately the following day we advertise,” Clr Mutimbanyoka said.

The Acting Town Clerk requested that Chitungwiza Municipality finalises and signs a deed because there is no deed yet.

“If that is done, we then do payment plans because we will likely have two clerks as what is being said. It’s something that needs to be agreed lawyer to lawyer and it won’t take time. Our last agreement was that Makunde tells us his expectation and we present our offer. If we agree on that, we proceed.”

However, Muchakwa indicated there had been many others who had left before Makunde.

“When former chamber secretary Priscilla Vengesai left, the post was advertised before there was a finalisation on her package,” he said.

Ward 6 councillor Tonderai Chiwanza said there was no reason to wait as “his dismissal was approved by the Local Government ministry”.

Councillors finally agreed to advertise the post this coming Sunday.