Gweru suspends town clerk

Gweru (The Times-New Ziana) -Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe has announced the suspension of town clerk Elizabeth Gwatipedza on six allegations of mismanagement and gross incompetence.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Gweru Civic Centre, Makombe who was flanked by a number of councilors, said a special council meeting had adopted the suspension pending investigations.

“The charges leveled against the town clerk are to do with gross incompetence, failure to supervise and monitor the departments such that they were operating in silos and at the end compromising service delivery in the city.

“We expect to go through the process (investigation) as quickly as possible so that when the process is over, she will come back and join us and probably move together as a city and provide the services that people deserve,” Makombe said.

He said Gwatipedza would be called to answer to the allegations.

Makombe said council was concerned about the level of service delivery in the city as there was shortage of water, failure to remove refuse and bad roads.

“Gwatipedza as the accounting officer had to make sure that she brings service to the level that the residents expect. Due to that (failure) reason I had to take that decision yesterday that we suspend her pending investigations,” he said.

The mayor dismissed assertions that the move was political saying it had to do with incompetence on the part of the town clerk.

Meanwhile Gwatipedza confirmed receiving the suspension letter.

New Ziana