Beketa chief executive Peter Tchibi, who died on Monday morning, consumed the poison immediately after attending Zanu PF’s kangaroo court, where he was immediately summoned to answer certain questions on Saturday, The Mirror reported.
Questions raised include why the council sold the stands on the Zanu PF Champions Acre and at the Zanu PF Women’s League Hall at Nyika Growth Point. He was also questioned about Hanyani, a private company allegedly set up by Al Shaibhi and the CFO to do business with the council.
Reference was made to the Council’s negative audit report during the meeting which is the current basis for the investigation against senior Council officials.
Chibi left the meeting held in the board room at Nyika Growth Point angrily and bought a bottle of poison on his way home. He left the receipt on a table at home, went to another house he was building nearby and drank poison, according to sources close to the family.
The Mirror confirmed that Tshebehi was summoned to the meeting at around 12pm by Kudakwashe Gobo, the Zanu PF regional political commissar, and he attended. The meeting ended around three in the afternoon.
Gobo confirmed his call and summoned Al-Shibhi to the meeting.
“Yes, I was the one who invited him to the meeting and he attended. However, I cannot comment on any other issues because I am not allowed to do so by the party.”
The meeting was attended by party dignitaries such as former Army General Englebert Rugege, Bikita East MP Zivizanai, former Education Minister Gabriel Machinga, Senator Anna Rungani, Central Committee Member Univester Mokoena and Regional Member Simon Moshava.
Four leaders attended the meeting: Marozva, Budzi, Mabika and Zeke. Bikita RDC Chairman Thomas Mataja and five council committee chairs were also present.
Lt. Gen. Rugege did not answer his phone for most of yesterday.
It is not clear what authority ZANU-PF has to summon and question the chief executive of a local authority whose reporting line is through councilors and the Ministry of Local Government. The meeting supports allegations of a government policy ordering local authorities to report to the ZANU-PF.
But DCC president, Chamunurwa Taruna, insisted the suicide may have been for personal reasons. He said that the meeting with Al-Shaibhi was friendly and he was not harassed at any time.
“The meeting went well. No one harassed him. We wanted him to clarify some gray areas. After the meeting we went home. No one thought he would take his life. I think he was having his own problems at home,” Taruna said.
Mataga said that the meeting pledged to support Al-Shibhi during the difficult period during which he was being investigated for corruption.
“I didn’t think he would take his life. We even told him that we support him and that all his problems are under control. We supported him,” Mataga said.
After noticing a receipt on the table, Chibhi’s wife allegedly became suspicious and followed him to the new house. She allegedly found him writhing in pain and took him to Silvera Hospital.
Chebe of Silveira was rushed to Masvingo Provincial Hospital where he passed away at around 3am on Monday.
He is being buried today.
In 2021, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Zvinishimwe Churu Bikita ordered the RDC to stop the Public Service Commission (PSC) land allotment.
This was after the then PSC Secretary Jonathan Wotonashi wrote to the ministry objecting to the council’s move to subdivide the lands belonging to the Civil Servants Corps. PSC accused Bequita RDC of encroaching on its lands and turning them into commercial platforms. Masvingo mirror
