According to a High court chamber application filed by Vitalis Mudzonga of Mwonzora and Associates on behalf of Kariba Incorporated Area Residents and Ratepayers Association, Kariba municipality was sued as first respondent, Chombo as second respondent while Kariba administrator Amigo Mhlanga was the third respondent.
The confusion over the appointment means the resort town is being run by two town clerks.
According to the urgent application details are that Mhlanga made recommendations to appoint Webster Gupo Tembo although he came second during interviews carried out by the board where Richard Tembo came out first.
‘’Residents and ratepayers will be badly affected if Tembo is appointed as the town clerk against the will of 5000 residents. This will lead to either maladministration or failure by the municipality to run effectively. It is wastage of resources and financial burden to residents’’ says part of the founding affidavit.
It further states that the interviews were held on 19 March 2013 by a local board that recommended Kamhoti as the first successful candidate followed by Tembo but Chombo illegally ‘’overstepped and appointed Tembo’’ although the board had confirmed Kamhoti as the town clerk.
‘’The risk of having two clerks is against the wish of Kariba residents and irreparable harm is therefore imminent and a financial crisis will erupt.
First respondent, Chombo’s attempt to appoint Tembo is unjustifiable and illegal. This has caused inconvenience and anxiety to the members’’ adds the association chairman Sam Mawawo in his affidavit.
The provisional order granted on 5 July 2013 states that Chombo must not appoint Tembo as Kariba town clerk and Kamhoti must carry out his duties freely.
It further calls for Chombo, Mhlanga and Kariba municipality to pay costs of the application.
Post published in: News