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 

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a call to action to governments in Southern Africa to protect children’s rights and ensure they receive quality education.

The call to action comes after a regional consultation with children from Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The consultation, held in Victoria Falls, brought together over 5 000 children to share their experiences, concerns, and ideas for creating a better future.

UNICEF is urging governments to take concrete steps to address the challenges facing children in the region.

These include ensuring access to quality education, strengthening and enriching curricula, and providing children with equal opportunities for education.

“We call on our Governments to take
concerted action on the following issues…

To ensure access to Education:

Ensure all children – including children from
disadvantaged backgrounds – have access to
quality education, providing financial support for
those in need and addressing the specific needs
of girls andboys to access education.

Strengthen and enrich curricula to ensure
inclusion of practical life skills that enhance daily
living and learning to earning.

Curriculum content should be designed to ensure relevance and meet the current demands of children.

Quality education needs to be innovative,
allowing critical thinking and creativity, ensuring
appropriate learning materials and a supportive
learning environment, and facilitating
engagement and practical skills development.
Governments should provide this in consultation
with children.

Educators should be equipped to deliver
quality education, making learning fresh, and
impactful, and delivered in pleasant
environments and infrastructure, conducive to
learning, including well-equipped labs
andlibraries.

Construct child- and disability-friendly
infrastructure and provide sufficient teaching
resources, including solar power for
uninterrupted learning, build schools closer to
communities or provide transportation for
students.

Involve parents, guardians and community
leaders in creating an inclusive education
system – including adolescent girls at risk of
drop out of school, children involved in child
labour, minority groups and children with
disabilities – to ensure no child is left behind.,” said a UNICEF report.

The children who participated in the regional consultation also issued a call to action to their governments.

They demanded that their voices be heard and that they be included in decision-making processes that affect their lives.

“We want our governments to listen to us and to take our views seriously,” said one of the child delegates.

“We want quality education that prepares us for the future and enables us to reach our full potential.”

UNICEF is supporting the children’s call to action and is working with governments, civil society organizations, and other partners to ensure that all children in the region receive the quality education they deserve.