GOVERNMENT has directed the Livingstone City Council to immediately reinstate Town Clerk Dras Neves because it does not have the powers to terminate her contract.
Minister of Local Government and Housing Brian Chituwo said in Lusaka on March 11 the dismissal of Ms Neves is illegal and warned of grave consequences if his directive is ignored.
Ms Neves was on March 10 allegedly locked out of her house while her official vehicle was allegedly grabbed by Livingstone Mayor AggreyNjekwa after the council terminated her contract.
Dr Chituwo was quoted by ZNBC as saying Ms Neves should immediately be given back her office, her official vehicle and all the emoluments that go with her position.
He warned the council to desist from activities that could have grave consequences.
But Mr Njekwa has defied Dr Chituwo’s directive saying he does not respond to press statements, but that there is a procedure to be followed between his council and the ministry.
He said in an interview he only received the minutes of the council meeting held on Thursday which passed the resolution to terminate the Town Clerk’s contract at 14:20 hours on March 11.
Mr Njekwa said after receiving the minutes, he has to go through them and hand them over to the provincial local government officer, who in turn is supposed to submit them to the minister’s office in Lusaka.
When asked as to whether the minister’s directive was premature, Mr Njekwa insisted that is the procedure.
He said he was currently going through the minutes together with the lawyers.
Narrating the events of on March 10, Ms Neves said Mr Njekwa, who was in the company of deputy mayor Aggrephrey Brill, allegedly threatened violence against her and forcefully evicted her from her office.
“They came into my office immediately after announcing the termination of my contract and told me: ‘what are you still doing here, can you leave now, termination of contract is with immediate effect’.
“They switched off my computers and did not allow me to clear my desk,” Ms Neves said.
She said K10 million went missing from her official vehicle after it was allegedly confiscated without her knowledge.
“I wanted to convert the K10 million into pounds because I am due to travel to England for a Commonwealth local government conference, but when I asked Mr Njekwa where my car was, he asked me to find my way to Maramba where the council garage is located. That was around 20:00 hours.
“When I opened the vehicle, I realised that my money was missing, and the keys to my house were nowhere to be found. When I queried Mr Njekwa, he rubbished my claims, arguing that the person who took my vehicle to the garage did not come across any of the things I had said were missing. I was also locked out of my house, and as I speak, I still do not have access to my house,” she said.
Ms Neves said she has reported the theft of money to the police.
She said Mr Njekwa and other United Party for National Development (UPND) councillors masterminded the termination of her contract.
Ms Neves said she recently effected staff reshuffles and the move did not please most councillors.
“In fact, the councillors incited workers to rise against me because they are not happy with the staff changes I made to curb misuse of funds.
“The money collected from markets is a lot, but what is submitted to the local authority is little and we made some staff changes as management. But some councillors were not happy with this move as some of them were benefiting from the looting. That is the reason they incited workers to rise against me,” Ms Neves said.
She said the local authority has no right to dismiss her from her position. Ms Neves said she remains town clerk until further notice from Government.
On March 10, Livingstone City Council terminated the contract of Ms Neves and sent acting director of finance KamwataPongo on forced leave in a raging battle that has plagued the local authority in the tourist capital for the larger part of the last 12 months.
But Ms Neves has said the decision announced by Mr Njekwa was illegal because, according to her, the mayor does not have powers to terminate her contract.
Mr Njekwa, who addressed the protesting workers after a full council meeting, said the town clerk’s contract had been cut short and the acting director of finance would proceed on forced leave to pave way for investigations.
The protest by unionised workers had worsened and taken a new twist, with soldiers temporarily taking up the responsibility of cleaning the streets, which were littered with garbage as the workers staged a strike.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
This woman is demented. She once alleged that HH wanted to beat her up! She also once sexualy harassed another woman. The ten million bull has to be investigated. e.g. when and where she withdrew the money and should produce reciepts to back the money trail. She is not so st.pid as to move with that kind of money in the car. Livingstone will not develop as long as she remains there. The minister must study this case and ensure that the city is no held hostage by her unproffessionalism. It is time to relieve Ms Nerves of her duties. Let her come back and look after her demented father in Lusaka.
The Lunatic town clerk is chief Mukuni’s relative and chief Mukuni is Rupiah’s cadre.Chituwo is just carrying out directives from Chief Mukuni and Rupiah. When she first started she spent 170 million just rennovating her house which was already in good condition using council money. She can do anything because her lawyers are Rupiah and Chief Mukuni.
IFWE NI PABWATO come what may.
Chituwo act objectively. Let the truth prevail and follow the law.
Can people in Livingstone please tell us what is really the issue there?The govt says one thing,the council says another.Who is telling the truth of the matter? The woman also seems to have issues.Is she saying she left ten million kwacha in the car while she worked? Why didn’t she carry it to the office with her?
Whatever the case, the mayor doesn’t have authority to dismiss the City Clerk. This is what happens when party cadres become mayors and don’t even know the extent of their authority. I support Chituwo for trying to bring sanity to this madness.
So the Livingstone council iz run by UPND?
10 Million. The old trick. So she is worth 10 Million. Why didnt she say 10,000 USD so that they are well punished. Kabili ndiye issue apa. She wants to punish the Mayor by paying the 10 m for embarassing her. I hope it will not be Council money that will be used.
Uko, uko, uko zed sure is another world, 10 mita mu motoka, cadres vs solola. we shall wait and see who wins here, but most likely the solola seems to have an advantage. Ba mayor just kindly ask for sum am sure she will open her legs 4 you, but as it is you are in shi.t.
Where did she want to change the 10m from? Palibakachinjulula?
5; You are very right.
Why do we support un-civilised means of resolving issues.Is that the way to terminate employment or treat a fellow human being?One minute you are served with the letter ; during which you are expected to pack your personal belongs out of the office and house & the next all is locked.Even Mulongoti thrown out in haste had time to pack despite supreme political pressure against him.
The problem is our councillors think there job are supporsed to be on monthly pay-roll. They want sitting allowances on daily basis.Anything against that becomes offensive.
Acting DF is being punished on baseless grounds.Can the councillors inform what wrong he did
We should learn from mis-placed priorities by these councillors to understand that education is focal in public offices in this time & age.
Where is civility in the UPND run council? Thought UPND prides itself over PF on intellectual strength.
Didinti way of working.
The Mayor should apologise to the public,stop insinuating workers & refuse to be used to settle old scores. His actions are embarassing lot.
Even before Town Clerk took over; Livingstone city has never known good service delivery.So one wonders what these councillors who have always being there can do differently now? I would rather give a benefit of doubt to TC trying to change the work attitude at LCC.
Even before Neves came to LCC, our council was well known for sex flashes. Recall scandal of last Mayor
Lock up the mayor and his deputy!
Obviously the mayor and his ‘thugs’ are misbehaving here, but Mr Chituwo should also follow the right procedure, its not every thing that should pass thru the media.
OCTOPUS PAUL BWALYA says:
March 12, 2011 at 10:51 pm
BROTHERS AND SIS, LT WEBSITE ANNOYS ME SO MUCH THEY HAVE NO HOME BUTTON LIKE MANY MODERN SITES AND I HAVE TO STRUGLE TO GO GO BACK TO OTHER HEADLINES I THINK ZAMBIANWATCHDOG HAVE THE BEST WEB SITE, AND THIS ****** TIMING OFF WHEN YOU ARE WRITING AN ARTICLE WHERE YOU LOSE ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTION ANNOYS ME WORSE OFF IS THERE LIMITATION ON WORD OR ARTICLE CONTRIBUTION WHY CANT THEY LEARN FROM MODERN SITES IN UK OR USA PLZ HELP ME ADVISING THEM OR THEY MAY LOOSE ADVERTS AND LEADERS TO ZWD,AND Z LEAKS, PLZ HELP ME ADVISE LT CAUSE THEY DONT LISTEN OR ACT ON TIME
lets follow stipulated guidelines
Octopus your wish is our command. You should’ve let us know how annoying you found the absence of the Home Button ages ago. For your browsing pleasure, we have activated the button for you. As for the timing, instead of working up your temper (because we have absolutely no influence on your typing speed) consider writing your comment in Word and then copy and paste as you please. Thank you.
Workers at the Livingstone City Council have long been complaining about non payment of arrears. The TC has been aloof to their humble demands and I am sure they have just had enough of the situation. Some of them are owed monies from as far back as before 2000 when councils underwent reforms. Too bad most Councillors are not wise and therefore lack foresight. People like Brill (whom I suspect is on something cuz he always seems to be in a daze) knew that the council was cash strapped before they were voted into power but guess what, Brill’s way of making money for the council was through fashion shows! Forget about how silly the idea is, he has failed to organise even just a single show – not that it would serve any purpose than entertainment and avenue of hooking up young chicks for him
That is just a tip of the ice burge, there s alot at stake here, pipo you see, 10 mita, why did she want to change it herself, are they no officers responsible for that , ,so that the bwana flies out wel, even the HE the PRESIDENT wil not to Kings Beaura to change some dollars wen travelling out, the system does not allow, but here slowly Zed is turnning into a very interesting state ,But the pipo are watching and very soon they will reach the boiling point were even the so called para-military wil not contain the pipo, as the army wil not join to shoot at their own pipo just or one man, they wil stand by the pipo.and even join because they also watching scandals after scandals..now NAPSA….many are stil coming keep your ears to the ground.
correction just because of one man.
Posterity always speaks loudest. Today we have the same Livingstone Mayor Njekwa arrested for the murder of a PF cadre during the Livingstone bye elections campaigns then after negotiations turned state witness. HH and other UPND big wigs were also arrested but let off. Violence runnins deep.
Brill with his ludicrous fabrication of sexual abuse, an attempt to get media coverage is now nowhere to be seen. Vanquished into oblivion
Alleged rapist former Mayor Jorum Mwiinde shoots his nephewJoe Banda who now lies critically injured in hospital with a broken thigh.
Council members of staff suspended and fired (others cleverly escaped) in K1.5 billion scam within the Council which included the ZULAWU Union Chair hence the strikes.
Honesty is never rewarded in Zambia.