Suspended sentence for dishonest Harare council official

The Harare city council’s committee chairperson for Works and Town Planning, Takudzwa Dzumbunu, has escaped with a suspended sentence after misleading a commission of inquiry investigating her academic qualifications. New Zimbabwe reports that Dzumbunu was reprimanded by the Justice Maphios Cheda-led commission after she reversed her earlier claim of holding a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Public Administration. When Dzumbunu appeared before the commission in October, she was unable to produce her academic degree, which she had previously stated was obtained from the University of Zimbabwe. The Citizens Coalition for Change councillor admitted to lying about her qualifications. ‘I do not have (the degree). I would like to apologise for when I was here,’ she said. The commission has highlighted concerns about the qualifications and competence of some council officials, revealing that several are underqualified for their positions. She received a six months suspended jail term.