Dr Tendai Mahachi
Municipal Reporter
Harare town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi was yesterday suspended for three months for failing to provide the salary schedule of all senior council employees.On 17 December 2013, council ordered Dr Mahachi to provide the salary schedule, but he failed to do so.
Harare Mayor councillor Bernard Manyenyeni announced the suspension at a Press conference yesterday. Clr Manyenyeni said the suspension would pave way for investigations into Dr Mahachi’s conduct and the affairs and finances of Council.
The mayor is expected to name an acting town clerk soon.
“The elected officials of council rely fully on the executive team to deliver to our residents’ expectations in all areas. This task is delegated to a chief executive officer commonly known as the town clerk.
“In this respect, this serves to notify all stakeholders of my decision to suspend Dr TJ Mahachi from the office of town clerk of Harare City Council for a period of three months in terms of Section 13(3)(a) of the Urban Council’s Act (Chapter 29:15) with effect from January 30, 2014,” he said.
He said Dr Mahachi failed to properly discharge his duties in terms of Section 136(1)(a) and (b) as read with section 136(2)(d) and (e) of the Urban Councils Act after he allegedly refused, failed or neglected to give effect to resolution 23 of the 1 831st ordinary council meeting held on December 17, 2013.
“That is he refused, failed or neglected to provide despite request, the salary and benefits schedule of all Harare City Council senior employees including his own schedule,” he said.
The mayor said he handed the suspension letter to Dr Mahachi and communicated his decision to the parent ministry. Zanu-PF councillors said there was nothing wrong with the suspension of the town clerk as long as Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, Dr Ignatius Chombo was consulted.
Hatcliffe councillor Naboth Munyengera said they had failed to access the schedule until Dr Chombo’s intervention.
He said the decision should cascade to all the other directors.
Mbare Flats councillor Innocent Maseko said Dr Chombo should appoint an acting town clerk. Dzivarasekwa councillor Samuel Garachani said investigations should not centre on the town clerk alone, should should include the entire council management.
Harare Municipal Workers Union executive chair Mr Cosmas Bungu welcomed the suspension, saying the law should equally apply to all.
“It is an issue affecting peoples’ lives if it was done according to the Labour Act there is nothing wrong. If investigations are done and he is found to be innocent he will come back to work,” he said.
Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba added: “The town clerk has not discharged his duties in a manner which promotes stakeholder participation. He is a closed person which is not a good attribute for a public officer.”