Bindura council workers stand up against corrupt p...

Bindura council workers stand up against corrupt police officers' reinstatement

Some workers at Bindura Municipality have threatened to down their tools should council reinstate two former senior police officers who, early this year, were dismissed for corruption.

The duo, Moline Tandi and Marshal Chireru, were fired in April after pleading guilty to the charges.

Allegations leading to their dismissal included extorting money from motorists parked at undesignated points and encroaching lanes. They were also allegedly extorting vendors and hawkers.

However, the two are set to bounce back this month under a new department assuming their previous grades.

According to their reinstatement letter from the human resources officer dated June 25, 2023, they were reinstated despite violating the authority's employment code of conduct.

The letters say the human resources office had given in to their appeal of reinstatement which they filed sometime in May this year.

“Please be advised the undersigned has in terms of the Bindura Municipality Employment Code of Conduct of 2004 considered your reinstatement request and made the following determinations:

“The determination of the Disciplinary Committee to find you guilty of breaching section 8.2.3(c) of the Bindura Municipality Code of Conduct of 2004 is hereby upheld. However, on clemency grounds, the penalty of dismissal from employment has been reconsidered as too harsh and as such is substituted by the following:

“You are to be given a final warning for the acts of misconduct for which you were found guilty. You are therefore laterally transferred from the position of Municipal Police Detail (Grade 13) to the position of Fireperson in the Chamber Secretary's office.

“Your conditions of service will not change. You shall forfeit your salary and benefits for the period stretching from April to June. You are supposed to report to the human resources officer on Monday, July 3,” reads the letter.

However, the Worker's Committee has threatened to down tools if the two return to work after being found guilty of breaching their working code of conduct.

According to one senior manager, the two are being brought back without the blessings of the Town Clerk or Mayor Brian Kembo.

Cllr Kembo confirmed he was unaware of the developments.