The Zimbabwean has established that most of the money went towards allowances for probe team members. Eight MDC-T mayors and 16 councillors have been suspended or fired by Chombo, including Mayors Brian James of Mutare, Tinashe Madamombe of Bindura, Lionel de Necker of Gwanda and Zvishavane Town Council Chairman, Alluwis Zhou.
Harare City Council was the biggest casualty with seven councillors dismissed, followed by Rusape with five and Banket with two. “We have always opposed the objectivity of the teams set up by Chombo. Over $750,000 has been taken from cash-strapped councils and the ministry to finance their controversial work,” said Deputy Local Government Minister, Sessil Zvidzai.
“If they had, for instance, bought water chemicals or refurbished aged pumping systems countrywide using that money, would we not be a step further forward?” asked Zvidzai.