By A Correspondent- Beitbridge municipality has been hit by mass resignations of key staff amid allegations of conflict of interest and abuse of office.

It is understood that despite having been swept under the carpet over the years, several cases of fraud, abuse of office, improper allocation of stands, cash shortfalls among others are beginning to surface.

This is against poor service delivery that has seen the local authority failing to maintain roads in residential areas.

Sewer bursts are a daily occurrence while the Environmental Management Agency has turned a blind eye to burst sewage pipes and uncollected garbage.

At least six officials resigned this year, among them housing officer Nicholas Muleya, who had an architectural concern and Oliver Sijiye, the municipality’s town planner who had a company that moulds bricks. Marvin Ramakgapola, from the Treasury Department left in a huff after failing to account for fuel drawn for personal use from a municipality account.

Although this was a theft case, the municipality chose to hold a disciplinary hearing. Another accounts clerk left in a huff as investigations into missing funds were launched.

An assistant executive left to join her spouse in South Africa.

Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola yesterday said those who resigned had done so for personal reasons and he was not aware that they fled possible criminal prosecution.

“Well their reasons are always personal. I may not be privy to that as some things could have happened before my time,” he said.

He joined Beitbridge municipality in 2014.

Asked about improper allocation of land and stands Ramakgapola said this might have happened before he joined the local authority.-newsday