Harare City Council (HCC) has conditionally lifted suspensions of 25 officials who were implicated in an irregular sale of council stands saying their absence had negatively affected the local government’s delivery of public goods and services.

The alleged underhand dealings reportedly prejudiced the local authority of US$1 million in revenue as proceeds were never remitted into council accounts.

Director of housing and community services Admore Nhekairo is now back at work after his suspension was lifted in September.

The resolution to lift the suspension was passed by the council’s general-purpose committee meeting held on October 13. Read the minutes of the meeting:

Council notes the update on the cases of twenty-five (25) employees from its various departments who have been placed on suspension and or have pending investigation/disciplinary hearings over alleged illegal sale or improper allocation of council land.

Council notes the update on the cases of twenty-five (25) employees from its various departments who have been placed on suspension and or have pending investigation/disciplinary hearings over alleged illegal sale or improper allocation of council land.

Council notes that the employees referred to in paragraph 5(1) of the confidential report (October 12, 2020) by the acting human capital director are currently on bail whose conditions prohibit them from interfering with investigations and witnesses but do not prohibit them from reporting for duty.

The committee also agreed that employees whose bail conditions are flexible, without any strict condition may be allowed to report for duty under “very strict conditions and supervision of the investigation authorities.”

Over a dozen of Harare City Council officials including councillors were arrested and dragged to court facing charges of criminal abuse of office after selling land.-Newsday