Suspended Victoria Falls Town Clerk Gets Windfall
The Victoria Falls City Council has resolved to pay suspended town clerk Ronnie Dube $200 000 in allowances, about $80 000 more than his basic salary.
Dube was arrested early last month and subsequently released on $50 000 bail on criminal abuse of office charges.
He was suspended on 28 April by mayor Somveli Dlamini on charges of gross incompetence, corruption, abuse of office and causing the local authority to lose revenue.
He was suspended without pay and other benefits pending investigations into charges against him.
However, councillors moved in and reversed the suspension while accusing their boss of not following procedure and carrying out unilateral decisions.
Dube was suspended for a second time on 14 May by Local Government Minister July Moyo.
According to the report of the full council meeting held on 1 June spilling over to the next day, Victoria Falls city fathers resolved to pay Dube $200 000 in allowances whilst on suspension. The report read in part:
The human resources official (HRO) advised the meeting that since council suspended the town clerk in terms of the Urban Council’s Act wherein there is no provision for the payment of a salary and benefits, but an allowance that council should fix, it would be a better option to proceed using the Urban Council’s Act.
For the sake of clarity, Section 139 subsection (5) stipulates that during the period of his suspension, he shall not be entitled to his salary or wages in respect of that period, but he may be paid such an allowance, not exceeding the amount of his salary or wages, as the council may fix.
A member wanted to know the town clerk’s salary so they could fix his allowance.
The HRO noted that the current basic salary is $115 337, 50 and the net is $226 319, 21.
A member proposed that the town clerk be given a flat allowance of $200 000 subject to tax.
The proposal was seconded. It was agreed that the town clerk’s suspension conditions be amended to allow suspension with a flat monthly allowance.
