BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Residents of Victoria Falls have come out guns blazing against Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe’s decision to nullify the suspension of Town Clerk Ronnie Dube.

The controversy began when the City of Victoria Falls council suspended Dube over allegations of corruption.

However, Minister Garwe intervened, citing that the council’s resolution contravenes Section 139 (4) of the Urban Councils Act.

In response, the residents associations, through their lawyers Dube, Mguni and Dube Legal Practitioners, penned a scathing letter to Minister Garwe, demanding that he withdraws his directive.

The letter, signed by lawyers Dube, Mguni and Dube, reads:

“We have been approached by the Hwange District Residents Association (HWADRA) and Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association (VIFACORA) with respect to the contents of this letter.

Our clients are concerned that the contents of the Honourable Minister’s letter purport to represent the interest of the inhabitants of the City of Victoria Falls, whom he has not consulted.

The Honourable Minister may need to know that on the 8th of December 2024, a joint meeting of above named residents associations have resolved to support the resolution of their agents and representatives in council.

There is therefore no doubt that the town clerk’s suspension is supported by the inhabitants of the City of Victoria Falls.

The Honourable Minister is advised that the suspension of the town clerk complies with Section 139 (4) of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 20:15] regarding the inquiry into the allegations of the suspended town clerk.

There is only one inquiry committee before which the suspended town clerk is expected to go and make his representations when invited to do so.

Procedurally, if the town clerk is found to have a case to answer, he will appear before a disciplinary committee, which is yet to be constituted.

The residents are aware that the resolution has recommendations for possible experts to be approached to form the disciplinary committee, should that become necessary.

It stands to reason that the investigative inquiry committee cannot sit and be judges over their own report.

This cannot render the resolution of council to be unlawful as to warrant a ministerial directive to rescind it.

The feeling of the residents is that the costs of a disciplinary process cannot be avoided if government is serious about combating corruption in all its forms.

The resolution is clear that the town clerk was suspended without salary and benefits.

The decision to pay the suspended town clerk allowances is supported by section 139 (5) (b) of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 20:15]. It is statutorily provided.

There is no contradiction in the resolution.

There is, with respect, no legal basis for councillors to rescind a lawful resolution meant to combat corruption in local authorities.

The Honourable Minister’s directive has adverse effects on fighting corruption.

The directive is meant to lift the town clerk’s suspension without him answering to the allegations against him.

It is not government policy that those accused of corruption can be let off the hook without being investigated or brought to book.

The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, DR E.D Mnangagwa is on record saying corruption is working against the attainment of national development goals and is inimical to public interests.

Our clients’ considered view is that the Honourable Minister will be best informed about the interests of the inhabitants of Victoria Falls if he visits and consults the taxpayers of council.

Meanwhile, our clients who are a representative body of the inhabitants of the council area are in support of the town clerk’s suspension and are monitoring the inquiry into the town clerk’s allegations.

Accordingly, we have been instructed to demand that the Honourable Minister, immediately withdraws his letter dated 6th December 2024 to the Mayor of Victoria Falls and make arrangements for a public consultation with the inhabitants of the council area, failing which the Honourable Minister and the City of Victoria Falls (as represented by the Mayor) will be taken to the High Court of Zimbabwe for appropriate relief.

We trust this is in order.

Yours faithfully,

DUBE, MGUNI & DUBE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

CC: His Worship the Mayor of Victoria Falls, Clr P.T Moyo

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A heated meeting was held at Chinotimba Hall on Sunday, where residents of Victoria Falls expressed mixed feelings over the suspension of Town Clerk Ronnie Dube amid corruption allegations.

The meeting, which started with a prayer, was convened by the Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association. Kelvin Moyo, the association’s representative, presented feedback to residents on their initial request to the mayor to suspend Dube over allegations of corruption, particularly those related to land deals and contracts.

Victoria Falls residents vow to bar town clerk from office despite minister’s intervention

He was at the podium with his co-chair of the Hwange Residents Association, Herbert Ncube, who equally supported Moyo, saying Dube has to go.

While some residents supported the suspension, others felt that Dube should not be prosecuted alone.

They argued that if Dube was involved in corrupt activities, he could not have done so without the knowledge and involvement of other council officials.

“We cannot just suspend Dube alone,” said a resident of Victoria Falls. “If he was committing those crimes, was he doing them alone?

Kanti impukane ezinhlanu zingawela echangweni, ukhipha eyodwa besunatha? We want the whole council management, the mayor, and councilors to be thoroughly investigated by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.”

Another resident, echoed similar sentiments. “It’s not just about Dube; it’s about the entire system that has allowed corruption to thrive. We need a comprehensive investigation that leaves no stone unturned.”

However, not everyone agreed that the entire council should be investigated, a local business owner, felt that Dube should be held accountable for his actions.

“While I agree that corruption is a systemic problem, we cannot ignore the fact that Dube has been at the center of these allegations. Inhlanzi iqala ukubola ekhanda… He should be investigated and prosecuted if found guilty.”

Despite the differing opinions, residents unanimously agreed that Dube’s suspension was necessary to pave the way for investigations.

They also vowed to stage a peaceful demonstration to ensure that Dube does not report to work until the investigations are completed.

The controversy surrounding Dube’s suspension is the latest in a series of allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the Victoria Falls City Council.

In 2021, Dube was suspended over similar allegations but was later reinstated.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe had intervened to nullify the council’s decision to suspend Dube, citing Section 139 (4) of the Urban Councils Act.

However, Moyo argued that this section does not apply in this case, as the minister is not protecting the interests of the residents.

As the meeting came to a close, residents resolved to take a stand against corruption and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

The peaceful demonstration is expected to take place soon, if cleared by the police,

with residents vowing to block Dube’s return to office until the investigations are completed.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Residents of Victoria Falls have vowed to bar Town Clerk Ronnie Dube from returning to office despite Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe’s intervention.

Garwe had nullified the council’s decision to suspend Dube over allegations of corruption related to land deals and contracts by mayor Prince Tuso Moyo.

The residents are adamant that they want investigations into the allegations to be completed, citing years of corruption in the town that have gone unchecked.

“The reason why we were here was to give the residents feedback that they had initially asked us to write to the mayor to say he should suspend the Town Clerk Ronnie Dube on the allegations,” said Kelvin Moyo, chairperson of the Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association this Sunday at Chinotimba Halls where hundreds of residents, including the war veterans and Hwange Residents Association gathered to discuss the matter and craft the way forward.

Moyo added that the residents were not satisfied with the minister’s decision to rescind the suspension.

“People have resolved after giving them the feedback that the letter that was written by the minister in terms of rescinding their decision, which was a resolution, it should be put aside because the section that he raised can only be raised when actually he is protecting the interests of the residents, but in this regard, the interests of the residents are known by ourselves and the residents are saying it is the right decision for them to suspend the Town Clerk inorder to pave way for the investigation,” he said.

The residents have resolved to stage a peaceful demonstration to ensure that Dube does not report to work until investigations are completed.

They plan to march to the council offices to bar Dube from entering.

Minister Garwe’s decision to nullify the suspension was based on Section 139 (4) of the Urban Councils Act, which states that the minister has the power to intervene in council decisions.

However, Moyo argued that this section does not apply in this case, as the minister is not protecting the interests of the residents.

The controversy surrounding Dube’s suspension is the latest in a series of allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the Victoria Falls City Council.

Dube has declined commenting on these allegations since his suspension last week.

In 2021, Dube was suspended over similar allegations, but was later reinstated.

More detailed story about the meeting to follow…