VICTORIA Falls City Council (VFCC) town clerk Ronnie Dube is in the eye of a storm after allegedly pushing the mayor, Prince Thuso to extend his tenure.
Dube’s term was set to end in February next year, having been appointed in 2017. Thuso allegedly granted his request for extension without approval from the council or government on May 30 this year, triggering a backlash from councillors.
A decade ago, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works issued circular 86 directing councils to align employment contracts for town clerks, chief executive officers (CEOs) and secretaries to the government’s corporate governance framework, which governs state enterprises and local authorities.
The framework stipulates that heads of local authorities can only serve a maximum of two four-year term limits.
A running investigation by the Independent on the management of councils shows that Dube’s spirited bid to cling onto his influential post, which comes with attractive perks, is just the tip of the iceberg.
In a letter dated May 25 addressed to Thuso, Dube highlighted that the Victoria Falls council could follow the example of other local authorities that have defied the corporate governance framework without facing any sanction from the government.
“You will recall your worship, that currently the town clerk serves a four-year term which may, upon satisfactory performance, be renewed only once. You will further recall that I am serving the last of such four-year contracts. This arrangement was borne out of Circular Number 86 of 2014 from the permanent secretary for local government and public work,” he wrote.
“The circular directed the aligning of existing employment contracts for town clerks, secretaries and chief executive officers such that they be aligned to the Corporate Government Policy Framework for State Enterprises, Parastatals and Local Authorities. It further directed that the head of local authorities be employed on four-year contracts which may be renewable only once and upon satisfactory performance.
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“I have it on good authority that some local authorities did not implement this circular. I am also aware that those that had implemented it have either gone back to the former situation in which town clerks had contracts without limit of time…Such information can be shared with you should you desire. It is in light of the above that I hereby apply for an extension to my contract when I reach the council retirement age,” excerpts from Dube’s letter read.
In the same correspondence, which has triggered fierce debate within the general purposes committee (GPC) of the council, Dube also highlighted that the desire to stay in office was motivated by a commitment to “fully implement strategic initiatives” he introduced when he assumed office in 2017.
“This will afford me an opportunity to fully implement the strategic initiatives that I put in place when I assumed office. Like I indicated, the request is not unique as some local authorities have done the same with their town clerks,” he further wrote.
“I have served this council with diligence and dedication and it is my desire to fully implement some projects that are still work in progress. Under my stewardship, council has taken a turn for the better despite the harsh operating environment. The numerous accolades that council has won are testimony to this. So is the satisfaction feedback council is getting from its stakeholders.”
Dube told the mayor that his office had engaged the local government and public works ministry as part of efforts to have his contract extended.
Dube proposed that the resort city “reverses” the government directive underpinning employment contracts for town clerks, among other top council officials.
He further wrote: “The town clerks’ forum has engaged the parent ministry with a view to doing one of the following: Align the circular with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act in terms of which heads of government-controlled entities are appointed to terms of not more than five years which may be renewed once, subject to satisfactory performance.
“Reverse the circular and revert to the old regime as legal opinion given to the forum is to the effect that the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act does not apply to local authorities.”
Dube’s request for his term to be extended has been a source of intense debate within the GPC, with other members warning of legal implications.
“Members noted the contents of the letter (Dube’s letter). A member asked if it was lawful to extend the contract as requested.
“One member was of the view that advice could not have been sought from council officials as they should not be put in the invidious position of having to give advice on a matter that determines the future of their supervisor,” extracts from council documents read.
The city’s mayor requested a meeting with the Independent upon receipt of questions posed by the publication.
“Come to my office so that I can share relevant documents and my comment. Let us meet in person in Harare on Saturday (tomorrow). I have a meeting that side,” Thuso told the Independent via WhatsApp.
However, a council official said Dube’s request was granted without conducting a performance appraisal of the town clerk.
“This is absurd that a whole town clerk can approach the mayor seeking a term extension with the full knowledge that he is no longer fit for office as stated by the corporate governance framework.
“He should do the honourable thing and walk away in February next year when his second four-year term ends. That is the right thing to do,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
Dube also did not address questions posed by this publication probing why he was seeking a term extension outside the purview of corporate governance regulations.
Local Government and Public Works secretary, John Bhasera was approached for comment but did not respond.
The corporate governance violations come at a time when President Emmerson Mnangagwa has set up a Commission of Inquiry to probe corruption scandals rocking the capital.
In Harare, as Mnangagwa’s commissioned investigation unfolds, preliminary findings show that a number of the city’s top officials have been working without contracts.
