ZANU PF councillors in Mudzi, Mashonaland East province, have accused the government of interfering in their operations following a move by the Local Government ministry to suspend Mudzi Rural District Council chairperson Arnold Katsande in what councillors described as trumped-up accusations.
Katsande, according to the councillors, is being persecuted after the local authority suspended its head of finance Royal Round following an audit that unearthed misappropriation of more than US$500 000.
Round is a Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial member.
After the internal audit, Round was suspended together with council’s environmental officer Tendai Musandiriri.
Musandiriri was arrested and charged with fraud, with Round yet to be arrested despite a police report filed against him.
The 22 councillors have since written letters to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Senate President Mabel Chinomona raising concerns over the suspension of Katsande.
Chinomona, who also Zanu PF national women’s league boss, is one of the most senior Zanu PF officials in the province.
In the letters, the councillors argued that Katsande should not be persecuted for a resolution that was passed by all of them after following due processes.
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All the 22 councillors appended their signatures to both letters.
“The human resources management and administration committee recommended that disciplinary measures be taken on members based on the investigation report presented. Royal Round’s disciplinary hearing was done on May 9, where he was found guilty of gross misconduct due to non-billing and under billing of mines,” read the letter dated July 4, addressed to Chinomona.
“The disciplinary hearing committee made a determination to dismiss him from service. . . Council was prejudiced of more than half a million United States dollars. Councillors are now feeling victimised for carrying out their duties.”
According to the letter addressed to Mnangagwa gleaned by this paper, the councillors defended Katsande saying he was being victimised.
“We humbly ask you Your Excellency to hear our appeal. If we erred as a council, it was not a one-person job, but all of us as 22 Zanu PF councillors,” the letter read.
According to an internal audit report dated March 12, conducted by one T Hondoyachepa, more than 30 gold mines were missing in the council database despite claims by owners that they were paying bills to council.
“The miners were never billed and the council lost revenue amounting to US$268 275 for the period January 2022 to December 2023.
“Finance department did not bill 31 registered miners in the database, whose bills total US$385 000 for the period January 2022 to December 2023,” part of the audit report read.
The report also added that the finance department did not bill land levy totalling US$268 787,50 for the period January 1, 2022 to December last year for mines which were not operational.
