Harare City Council’s Executive Assistant, Matthew Marara, has fired back at his critics, claiming senior council officials are orchestrating a smear campaign against him.
Marara alleges these officials aim to tarnish his reputation and drive a wedge between him, Mayor Jacob Mafume, and the Town Clerk.
The controversy surrounds several allegations, including Marara’s supposed self-promotion to an nonexistent executive secretary position and receipt of a US$300,000 executive car from council funds.
Additionally, it’s been claimed that Marara draws two salaries from his dual roles as Executive Assistant to the Town Clerk and Human Capital Director.
Marara, a retired soldier, maintains he has done nothing to warrant these attacks, emphasising that his actions are backed by council resolutions. He has sought protection from the acting Town Clerk, Phakamile Mabhena Moyo, against what he terms “lies”.
In the letter, Marara’s lawyers, Lunga and Mazikana Attorneys said their client operates within the confines of the law and all he is alleged to have done is above board and supported by full council resolutions.
Some sections of the media alleged the suspended Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango unilaterally appointed him to the position of Executive Assistant which the lawyers rubbished saying all the issues relating to appointment, reinstatement, upgrading and compensation are backed by council resolutions.
The lawyers said the sustained media attacks and with no response from the council, his employers, puts his reputation into question which warrants a response.
They said Marara has remained mum in respect of his employment contract but the continued silence from the city appears as a plot to force him out.
“Our client is mostly worried that some of the executive and senior council employees have supported these allegations through interviews with media and his employer has not made any attempt to protect and defend him against these false allegations.
“Our client has been offered several opportunities by the media houses to present his side of story but he is constrained due to the fact that he signed a confidentiality policy which bars him from disclosing his employment issues to the public.
“Our client is inclined to believe that there may be some plot against him by some senior officials to exert pressure on him so that he resigns from his position which he takes as constructive dismissal,” the letter reads.
Marara, according to the lawyers, says it is high time that he speaks out and set the record straight on a number of issues through the Town Clerk’s office with the hope that his employers will protect him and save his image.
Marara rubbished claims that he resigned from his city employment but was put on suspension after his arrest in 2020 on a number of allegations much if which have fallen in the courts.
He said his presence at town house is above board and authorized by the office of the town clerk.
“On 12 June 2023 he (Marara) wrote a letter to your office requesting to resume duty and payment of his salaries and benefits. On the 15th of June 2023 your office wrote a letter advising our client to resume duty as the Executive Assistant and he resumed his duties on the 19th June 2023.
“Following his resumption of duty as Executive Assistant your office further advised him to resume his duty as the Acting Human Capital Director on the 5th July 2023 through your office,” the letter reads.
The lawyers rubbished claims that Marara made the resignation letter disappear, a claim which they described as malicious.
They also stated that the issue of perks and compensation was negotiated through the office of the mayor and there are documents to support this position.
“Further to that, His Worship J. Mafume appointed a Negotiating Committee whose mandate was to handle negotiations with our client in respect of outstanding issues which included his ceased salaries and benefits.”
“It has further falsely alleged that our client has made his resignation letter disappear from the system. This allegation is not only false but also malicious.
“The employer ought to know the following processes that should be undertaken pursuant to an employee’s resignation,” the letter says.
On the issue of the expensive vehicle, Marara said there is no such vehicle and raised concerns that some people may be getting perks using his name.
“The employer has never bought our client a Toyota 300 series motor vehicle or any vehicle as published in the media or in any way. For the record, our client uses his personal vehicles both for work and personal business.
“Our client is worried that there may be a motor vehicle purchased with the employer’s funds in his name and delivered elsewhere. This is an issue which needs to be thoroughly investigated urgently,” the lawyers said.
“Our client advises that he has since relinquished the position of the Acting Human Capital Director following a prior arrangement with the employer and Mr B. Matengarufu now occupies the position.
“We believe that the complaints that have been circulating that our client is occupying two offices have been addressed,” the lawyers added.
The lawyers said the attacks have been systematic ranging from three criminal allegations which have been thrown away by the courts and have now been upgraded to taint his reputation.
“Our client believes that the allegations are being peddled by someone who has an ulterior motive to tarnish the image of His Worship, J. Mafume, the Town Clerk and the Council at large who have been involved from the onset in the issues pertaining to our client.
“Our client formally lodges his grievance through your good office and requests that the employer immediately addresses all issues raised above and sets the record straight to the public and all affected stakeholders.
“Failure to do this our client will take it that the employer is complicit and set to frustrate our client to force him into resigning from his position which conduct constitutes constructive dismissal,” the letter says.
Discover more from Nehanda Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
