GWERU City Council has engaged the services of the police to recover a vehicle that suspended
acting town clerk Vakai Chikwekwe is allegedly refusing to return.
Chikwekwe was suspended without pay and benefits on February 22 for allegedly violating tender
procedures resulting in companies Shesham, Cacas and Wackdrive winning tenders to service stands
in the city.
He is challenging his suspension.In a letter to the officer in charge of Gweru Central Police, acting Town Clerk Samson Sekenhamo
said Chikwekwe had not returned the vehicle as per the conditions of his services.
In the letter dated March 7, and referenced, “Request for assistance to recover council vehicle
Nissan Navara registration number AAE 5600 from suspended acting Town Clerk and substantive
chamber secretary Mr V.D Chikwekwe,” Sekenhamo said six council employees including acting
chamber secretary Tapiwa Marerwa had been instructed to recover the vehicle with no joy.
“The conditions of Mr Chikwekwe’s suspension clearly instructed him to return all council property
including the above-mentioned vehicle as a matter of urgency.
“Until now, Mr Chikwekwe has not returned the said vehicle and we seek for your assistance in
recovering the vehicle,” Sekenhamo wrote.
Chikwekwe is challenging his suspension through his lawyer Admire Rubaya of Rubaya and
Chatambudza Legal Practitioners on the pretext that his suspension letter contradicts what is
contained in the special council resolution that led to his suspension.
The former acting Town Clerk was suspended following his arrest by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption
Commission for the alleged tender procedures violation.
He has since appeared before Gweru Magistrate Miriam Banda facing a charge of criminal abuse of
office and was remanded out of custody to March 17 on $100 000 bail.
Council served Chikwekwe with a suspension letter stating reasons, some of which include failure to
coordinate, monitor and supervise all departments, thereby resulting in employees working in silos
and consequently affecting service delivery.
Council also stated that there was negligence of duty on Chikwekwe’s part, which resulted in council
being prejudiced financially.
The local authority has since appointed finance director Livingstone Churu as acting Town Clerk.
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