Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Harare City Council human capital and development director Mr Cainos Chingombe who was fired in 2020 is set to bounce back at Town House after the labour court ruled that his contract was unlawfully terminated.
Mr Chingombe was suspended in 2017, before being reinstated in November last year and subsequently fired a few months later.
Pindula News understands that Chingombe had reportedly transferred USD130 000 council funds into his personal account and used some of it to buy a US$119 000 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.
This was revealed when Chingombe appeared before Harare magistrates’ court facing charges of criminal abuse of duty by a public officer, alternatively theft of trust property.
The crime had allegedly been committed in October 2014 when Chingombe, working in connivance with some senior council officials, reportedly transferred US$130 000 from the council’s Traditional Beer Levy account into his personal account.
The loss of a labour case by the local authority against Chingombe has once again exposed how the council is losing huge sums of money in labour disputes.
On the issue of the costs of suits, Justice Tsanga, presiding over a trial in the contempt of court case of former Chief Justice Malaba questioned if “the issue of costs not discourage citizens from challenging matters in court.”
Meanwhile, six out of eight Harare City Council directors and a host of other middle managers are on suspensions.
More: Pindula News; The Herald
