News

Mayor’s arrest exposes serious Victoria Falls council infighting

Published

2 years ago

October 9, 2022

Admin

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The arrest of Victoria Falls mayor Somvelo Dhlamini has exposed serious infighting in the MDC Alliance controlled city council pitting management against the political leadership as both sides are trading accusations of corruption against each other.

Dhlamini is spending the weekend in custody after he was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on charges that he fraudulently acquired a housing stand illegally.

The mayor, who appeared at the Hwange regional magistrates court on Friday and was remanded in custody to tomorrow for the bail ruling, had earlier in the week been linked to the violent removal of town clerk Ronnie Dube from his office by war veterans and members of the Hwange Residents Association.

Dube was accused by a group of about 15 people that stormed his office before locking him out of ignoring his suspension by Dhlamini over alleged corruption cases.

Prosecutors revealed that the town clerk was the one, who laid charges against the mayor.

Dhlamini seen shaking hands with President Emmerson Mnangagwa

The prosecution said: “On the 15th of August 2022 and at Victoria Falls City Council offices the accused Somvelo Dhlamini, who is the mayor of the city council and in his capacity as such unlawfully and intentionally made a misrepresentation and purported to be Valentine Munyaradzi Maseko who he had earlier on in 2003 purchased stand 1139 by making an application using the name Valentine Munyaradzi Maseko to Victoria Falls City Council under the Wood Road Housing Scheme upon which the council offered him stand number 1771 Wood Road which needed a deposit of US$25 000.”

It was alleged that Dhlamini paid US$10 000 and the balance was supposed to be paid within five days, but he failed to settle the debt and paid $7 500 000 instead.

The mayor was accused of misrepresenting himself as Maseko and defrauded the city despite a 2020 full council resolution that said people applying for residential stands must “not have benefitted before through allocation, purchase or lost stands through repossession within Victoria Falls City.”

Dhlamini is accused of prejudicing council of US$15 000 and a potential prejudice of US$66 462.75.

Dhlamini has previously been arrested over the same allegations

The latest fight between the mayor and town clerk erupted last month when Dhlamini suspended Dube after accusing him of being corrupt.

Dube ignored the suspension and continued reporting for work which led to his second suspension on September 20, which was also ignored.

Dhlamini last week told VicFallsLive that a group of about 15 people, who included war veterans and members of the Hwange District Residents Association, stormed Dube’s office at around 4PM and instructed him to pave way for investigations into the allegations raised against him.

He said he did not know that the group was plotting the raid until they called him into Dube’s office to table their grievances, which led them to kick him out before locking the office and putting a key blocker.

Zanu PF’s Hwange district disassociated itself from the war veterans that raided Dube’s office.

Dhlamini was previously suspended from the mayoral position by the MDC Alliance when it was still led by Nelson Chamisa, only to be reinstated by Douglas Mwonzora after he seized control of the opposition party.

Last year, Dube was also arrested by ZACC on allegations of corruption, but was later acquitted by the same court after the magistrate said the state failed to provide convincing evidence against him.

Victoria Falls ratepayers have been boycotting the city council’s 2023 budget consultation meetings demanding answers over various allegations of corruption.

Residents boycotted meetings held last month and demanded to be first addressed by council over the alleged irregular sale of commercial stands and the US$89 000 loan that was given to Dube to buy a car, a luxury car for the mayor and leasing of breweries.

The Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association has since written a letter to relevant government ministries, police and parliament asking them to investigate the allegations.

They said they had proof of corrupt deals by the town clerk and councillors.

Victoria Falls residents, mainly in the high density suburbs, have endured over six months without water and the perennial shortage has been worsening since August.

Residents argue that poor service delivery is caused by mismanagement, although council recently told VicFallsive that the issue of water shortages had to do with rising demand during the summer season.

News

Police Hunt For A Nkayi Murder Fugitive

Published

4 months ago

January 11, 2024

Admin

BY STAFF REPORTER

A Nkayi man is reportedly on the run after allegedly assaulting a fellow villager with an unknown object on the head on New Year’s Day.

Police have identified the fugitive at Joinisa Tshuma from Dabe village who is being sought for a murder charge.

“ZRP is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of Joinisa Tshuma who is being sought in connection with a case of murder in which Mcebisi Moyo died on 07/01/24,” police appealed.

“The suspect allegedly assaulted the victim on the head with an unknown object near a bush in Dabe Village, Nkayi on 01/01/24 before he fled the scene.”

According to police, the victim sustained some head injuries and he was admitted at Nkayi District Hospital where he succumbed to the injuries.

Meanwhile, Police in Machipisa are also investigating a case of murder which occurred on Wednesday, in which a yet to be identified male adult approximately aged 30 years who was wearing a yellow t-shirt, black trousers, black gum boots and a black cap, was found lying dead with a stab wound on the back near Mapuranga Transport Service Garage in Harare.

Police are also appealing to the public with information surrounding the incident.

“Anyone with information to report at any nearest Police Station.”

News

Full ZRP Statement on Armed Robberies Raiding Elite Schools

Published

4 months ago

January 11, 2024

Admin

As the schools open, parents and guardians are in the process of paying school fees, levies and other related school costs, for their children.

School authorities are therefore urged to deposit all monies at financial institutions to curb armed robbery cases.

The issue of collecting cash by school authorities at schools should be reconsidered given the recent armed robbery cases.

The Police has recorded armed robbery cases in Bulawayo and Chinhoyi in which schools are being targeted.

In one of the cases, unknown suspects pounced at George Silundika High School at corner George Silundika Street and Third Avenue, Bulawayo on 06th January 2024, where they stole US$17 280.00 cash which was in a cash box.

In another case which occurred at Lomagundi College, Chinhoyi on 09th January 2024, 12 unknown suspects attacked security guards before stealing an undisclosed amount of cash, a Mazda Tribute motor vehicle, cellphones and laptops, among other valuables.

School authorities are urged to step up security measures at schools and employ guards from reputable security service providers who constantly monitor and review deployments.

Above all, school authorities should install CCTV at points of entry and administration offices.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned that some of these robbery cases are resulting from leakage of information.

Members of the public are warned that those who provide inside information to robbery syndicates will be arrested.

Police crack teams are firm on the ground and will pounce on armed robbery syndicates for the law to take its course in earnest.

News

ARTUZ condemns government for opening of school amid Cholera outbreak

Published

4 months ago

January 11, 2024

Admin

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has condemned the government’s decision to reopen schools due to the cholera outbreak wreaking havoc in most parts of the country, labeling the move reckless and disregarding the pressing concerns raised by parents and teachers.

Statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care last week showed since the outbreak of cholera, Zimbabwe has recorded 15 137 suspected cholera cases, 1 759 confirmed cases, 14 578 recoveries, 67 confirmed deaths and 266 suspected deaths.

“We vehemently condemn the government’s reckless decision to open schools amidst the widespread cholera outbreak, completely disregarding the pressing concerns raised by parents and teachers,” reads the statement.

“We demand that the government immediately mobilize substantial resources to ensure the safe reopening of schools because our children deserve nothing less than a secure and conducive learning environment.

“It is the duty of the government to provide sanitary solutions and ensure the safety and well-being of our children.

The union also called on the government to consider an upward increment of teachers’ salaries, criticizing the government’s lack of engagement with educators, particularly regarding their ongoing demand for a US$1 260 salary.

“Also, it is utterly disappointing to witness such a hasty move without even bothering to engage with the educators who have been tirelessly advocating for a just salary of US$1260.

“The safety and welfare of our students and teachers should be the utmost priority, but it seems that the government is callously neglecting this responsibility.

“It is high time for the government to prioritize the well-being of our education system and take meaningful action to address the urgent needs of our dedicated teachers. ”