Own Correspondent
The decision by Acting Mayor Mukunguma to reinstate Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango back at work before the conclusion of his corruption case at the courts has been lambasted by residents as a sign of lacking seriousness in fighting corruption.
In a statement the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) said it is “shocked by Harare City Council Acting Mayor’s decision to reinstate senior Council employees who had been arrested on allegations of corruption”.
The organisation said the actions by the MDC-T politicians have created a “circus that is being perpetuated at Town House.
“(It) is a mockery to principles of good governance and accountability”, it added.
The Acting Harare Mayor Councilor Mukunguma wrote a letter on the 17th of December calling upon the suspended Town Clerk, Hosiah Chisango stating that, ‘due to exigency of work and the demands of the office of the Town clerk you are hereby notified to proceed with your work in your capacity as the Town Clerk’
However CHRA says the reasons proffered by the Acting Mayor are not justifiable and this is a sad demonstration of lack of seriousness in terms of dealing with corruption.
“It does not make sense to reinstate an employee who has not been proven innocent in the court of law.
“In addition, the reinstatement is likely to lead to interference with investigations on the alleged matters”.
“The Acting Mayor Mukunguma is offside and needs to be reigned.
“The office of the Mayor of Harare is ceremonial and the decision to reinstate the Town Clerk, Hosiah Chisango can only be done through a council resolution”, it said.
Chisango was arrested on corruption allegations as were nearly twenty other senior Council employees.
Government has since issued a letter stating that all those arrested in corruption cases cannot return to work until their cases are completed.
Below is Mukunguma’s letter to Chisango.
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