Hunt For New Town Clerk Begins

MUTARE- The City of Mutare has re-advertised the post of Town Clerk to
replace the late Joshua Maligwa after elected candidate Kumbirai Madanhi
failed to take up office last year.

According to an advert flighted by the local authority, applications for the local
authority’s top office are being invited.

“Applications are being invited for suitably qualified and experienced persons
to fill the vacant post of town clerk. If you are interested and possess the
requisite qualifications and are Zimbabwean with a high degree of initiative and
visionary approach to change management then submit an application with 10
certified copies of academic and professional certificates and their detailed Cvs
to His Worship, The Mayor, City of Mutare,” reads part of the advert.

After Maligwa’s passing, the City’s health director, Dr Mutara, took office on
acting basis before he was embroiled in a corruption related case and eventually
leaving the local authority.

Dr Mutara was however absolved from any wrongdoings in a superior court of
law.

This led to the local authority’s finance director, Blessing Chafesuka taking up
the office on acting basis over the past two years.

Ruwa Local Board Secretary, Kumbirai Madanhi was last year appointed city of
Mutare’s substantive town clerk but failed to take up office after several
engagements.

Madanhi was appointed to the post in February with expectations of him taking
up office in March.

It was earlier reported that he would begin work once he had served his three
months notice to his employer, but he again failed to turn up for work. The City
then gave Madanhi an ultimatum which he again failed to respond to leading to
the re-advertisement of the post.

He did not concede to the written requests resulting in the local authority
presuming Madanhi had turned down the offer.

Deputy Mayor of Mutare, John Nyamhoka said the lack of a substantive town
clerk derailed progress within the local authority given that those holding fort
had limited authority and decision making powers.

“A person holding office on acting basis does not have decision making powers
to full capacity. The decisions are not concrete or substantive and this derails
progress within the local authority. A person in acting capacity needs to go
through rigorous consultations and this impacts negatively on projects that need
to be undertaken immediately,” he said.