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Chombo endorses Chideya's suspension
Reagan Mashavave, The Zimbabwe Independent
June 30, 2006

http://www.theindependent.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=4112&siteid=1

GOVERNMENT has endorsed the suspension of Harare Town Clerk Nomutsa Chideya, raising fears that city commission chairperson Sekesai Makwavarara’s obdurate behaviour at Town House could have been sanctioned by the central government.

Making an official announcement of the suspension yesterday Local government minister Ignatious Chombo said Chideya had been suspended due to poor management of the city.

Chideya would soon be placed under an enquiry chaired by Harare provincial magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe.

"In consonance with the practice of natural justice and in compliance with the provisions of the law, the commission shall proceed with reasonable urgency to cause an enquiry to be conducted into the suspension," Chombo said.

"The enquiry shall be chaired by magistrate Guvamombe and shall include legal advisor to the ministry Ms T Nyakujara and two others.

City director of Health Services Dr Stanley Mungofa was appointed acting Town Clerk.

Chombo revealed that Chideya had been offered a job at the Urban Development Corporation (Udcorp) with benefits similar to what he is enjoying as Town Clerk, but Chideya turned down the offer.

Chombo however failed to explain why government would offer Chideya a job at Udcorp when he was facing suspension for mismanagement. Nor could he explain what powers Makwavarara had in offering Chideya a job at Udcorp.

"I would also want to let you know that Cde Chideya was offered a job to be the head of capacity building at Udcorp which he refused to take," Chombo told journalists yesterday. "The job had same benefits that he was enjoying as Town Clerk."

Earlier in the week Chideya had defied Makwavarara’s orders that he must not conduct any council meetings without her approval. He had questioned Makwavarara’s powers and threatened to take legal action if she continued interfering with his work.

Makwavarara becomes the fourth Harare council leader to suspend Chideya on alleged incompetence and mismanagement.

It is understood that Chideya is considering challenging his suspension in the courts. It was not possible to contact him for comment after his mobile phone was surrendered to council.

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