By Judith Sibanda
SUSPENDED Victoria Falls Town Clerk Ronnie Dube has bounced back after a five-member commission of inquiry set up to investigate the merits of his allegations cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Dube was arrested and charged with criminal abuse of office as a public officer for allegedly misleading the council in awarding a stand to a tour operator.
He stands accused of influencing the awarding of a commercial stand to tourism operator, Shearwater in violation of tender procedures by misleading councillors. It is alleged that sometime on 8 September 2017 Dube received a request to purchase additional land behind stands 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, 1386 and 943 from Ntokozo Mlilo, group human resources manager for Shearwater Adventures.
He was granted a $50 000 bail.
His suspension was briefly lifted by the Victoria Falls councillors before Local Government minister July Moyo verbally suspended him on May 14.
The commission comprising of former Victoria Falls mayor Nkosilathi Jiyane, ex-councillors Vusumuzi Moyo and Million Moyo, Hwange Rural District Council chief executive Phindile Ncube and lawyer Elvis Mashindi, was set up to investigate the charges levelled against Dube.
On Thursday, the commission presented its findings to the council.
“Victoria Falls City Council Town Clerk Ronnie Dube has bounced back at the helm after being cleared of wrongdoing by a commission of inquiry, in a Special Full Council meeting held today 24 June 2021,” the local authority said in a statement.
“This comes after a litany of unfounded allegations were drawn against the seasoned leader, whose Local Governance experience spans from 1992 to date.
“Council set up a five member-commission of inquiry to look into the allegations of misconduct leveled against the Town Clerk which made up of, the former Mayor and Alderman, former Councillors, a sitting Chief Executive Officer of a Local Authority, and a lawyer.
“Following a week of investigations and deliberations on the issues brought before
them, the commission recommended that Dube be cleared of all the charges since there was a paper trail of things being done above board.”
Victoria Falls Mayor, Somvelo Dhlamini has reportedly written a letter to Dube advising him of his reinstatement.
Dube could not be reached for a comment.
