The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front dominated city council of Chegutu on 31 July voted to suspend its Movement for Democratic Change mayor Francis Dhlakama and to withdraw all benefits of his office.
The benefits included his official vehicle, house, salary, his secretary’s salary, his guards and his cell phone.
Ironically Dhlakama had facilitated a local government audit which had uncovered massive corruption primarily by his ZANU-PF deputy mayor Phineas Mariyapera involving more than Z$150 million.
The scheme, which had been going on from 2001, involved understating taxpayer payments. Full sums were collected from taxpayers but some wound up in private accounts rather than public coffers.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 03HARARE1555, CHEGUTU ZANU-PF CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO SUSPEND MDC
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
011001Z Aug 03
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001555
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR J. FRAZER
LONDON FOR C. GURNEY
PARIS FOR C. NEARY
NAIROBI FOR T. PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2013
SUBJECT: CHEGUTU ZANU-PF CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO SUSPEND MDC
MAYOR
REF: A. HARARE 1491
¶B. HARARE 42
Classified By: Political Officer Audu Besmer for reasons 1.5 b/d
Summary:
——–
¶1. (C) On July 31 the ZANU-PF dominated city council of
Chegutu voted to suspend the MDC Mayor of Chegutu Francis
Dhlakama and withdraw all benefits of his office. Dhlakama
facilitated an early July Ministry of Local Government audit
which detailed corruption perpetrated by various members of
the Chegutu City Council, primarily the ZANU-PF Deputy Mayor
Phineas Mariyapera. Under normal circumstances a damning
government audit, such as this one should be enough to at
least investigate, if not suspend the city council — rather
than the Mayor. The audit puts the Ministry of Local
Government in a quandary, how to respect the results without
further tarring the image of ZANU-PF in Chegutu. End Summary
Council Votes to Suspend Mayor
——————————
¶2. (C) On July 31 the ZANU-PF dominated city council of
Chegutu voted to suspend the MDC Mayor of Chegutu Francis
Dhlakama and withdraw all benefits of his office including
his official vehicle, house, salary, his secretary’s salary,
his guards and his cell phone. According to Dhlakama, only
the Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo has the
legal right to suspend him. Dhlakama expects to receive
written notification of his suspension on August 1, and for a
representative of the council to demand his car keys. He is
unsure when the other benefits might be withdrawn, but
believes that will follow soon. Dhlakama will request a
meeting with Chombo on August 1 to argue his side of the
story, hoping to appeal the suspension; however, he expects
Chombo to uphold it.
Audit Details Fraud by Councilors
———————————-
¶3. (C) In early July, a team of Ministry of Local Government
auditors completed an investigation and report of corruption
perpetrated by various members of the Chegutu City Council,
primarily the ZANU-PF Deputy Mayor Phineas Mariyapera, and
councilor Chigaze for upwards of ZWD$150 million (about
USD$45,000 at the current parallel rate). The scheme,
ongoing since 2001, involved understating taxpayer
payments–while the full sums were collected from the
taxpayer, some wound up in private accounts rather than
public coffers. The government auditors recommended
immediate dissolution of the council and police investigation
of the fraud. Dhlakama has facilitated the work of the
auditors and informs us that even ZANU-PF heavyweights are
annoyed at this crime–perhaps because it was local and they
did not benefit, perhaps because it has further alienated
ZANU-PF from the people of Chegutu.
¶4. (U) Chegutu has been besieged with problems in the recent
past. On July 21 ZANU-PF supporters prevented ten
prospective MDC candidates for the City Council from
registering their candidacies (Ref A). Dhlakama himself was
reportedly beaten on that day. In November 2002 about forty
ZANU-PF supporters attacked Dhlakama in his office injuring a
police officer, a bodyguard and damaging computers and
furniture (Ref B).
¶5. (U) The MDC will argue in Harare High Court on August 1
that nomination courts in Chegutu, Rusape, Bindura and
Marondera should be re-opened to allow MDC candidates to
register for the August 30 – 31 urban council and mayoral
elections.
Comment:
——–
¶6. (C) Under normal circumstances a damning government audit,
such as the one completed in Chegutu by the same Ministry
that oversees local government, should be enough to at least
investigate, if not suspend the city council itself. But on
planet Zimbabwe it appears that the MDC mayor will be
suspended instead, lawfully or not. The audit does put the
Ministry of Local Government in a quandary, how to respect
the results of its own audit without further tarring the
image of ZANU-PF in Chegutu. End Comment.
SULLIVAN
(114 VIEWS)
