Trymore Tagwirei
Masvingo City Council is once again at the centre of a storm — this time accused of defying a court order and weaponising ‘psychological counselling’ to silence its Chief Internal Auditor, Docas Makusha (née Moyo), after she exposed alleged corruption at Town House.
Makusha’s lawyers say the council’s decision to send her for psychological counselling is illegal, contemptuous, and part of a calculated effort to destroy her career.
This latest twist comes despite a binding court order issued by Magistrate Linetty Tariro Mudzingo, which barred the council from holding any disciplinary proceedings against Makusha until her grievances are addressed.
Makusha, a long-serving official who joined the city council in 2010, dragged her employer to court accusing top officials of harassment, victimisation and breach of contract.
She said the council failed to honour contractual promises to allocate her commercial and industrial stands in 2022 and 2024, and unfairly downgraded her position from Head of Internal Audit (Director) to Audit Manager, in violation of government job evaluation guidelines.
But instead of addressing her complaints, the council reportedly turned its focus on her mental health.
According to minutes of a Human Resources Committee meeting held on September 17, 2025, later adopted by full council held on September 29, 2025 and seen by EnviroPress, councillors resolved that Makusha should undergo “urgent professional counselling,” claiming her “behaviour had changed” after rejecting the job evaluation results.
“It has been noted that the Internal Audit Manager might need urgent professional counselling. Her situation got triggered by her failure to accept the job evaluation results.
“She no longer associates with anyone in the organisation and is more like a lone ranger… this poses an emotional and psychological hazard,” the minutes read in part.
Her lawyer, Wellington Muzenda of Muzenda and Chitsama Attorneys, blasted the decision, describing it as a smear campaign meant to paint his client as mentally unstable for refusing to bow to pressure.
“My client has submitted a grievance on the very issues council now seeks to send her for counselling. This is a direct act of contempt against the court order,” said Muzenda.
“She has no history of mental illness. These claims are malicious and aimed at discrediting a professional who refused to compromise her integrity,” said Muzenda.
Muzenda warned that councillors who push ahead with the decision could face personal liability for contempt of court.
The fallout between Makusha and Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa reportedly began in 2023, after the auditor unearthed irregularities in the procurement of his official vehicle.
Mukaratirwa was later arrested and charged with abuse of authority for allegedly instructing council to purchase a vehicle outside the approved price range.
“They want to punish my client for doing her job. Their desperation has reached another level,” said Muzenda.
The confrontation comes barely months after a damning Auditor-General’s report exposed massive irregularities, weak controls, and questionable financial management within Masvingo City Council.
Sources inside council say Makusha’s insistence on accountability has made her a target.
“She stepped on powerful toes — now they are using mental health as a weapon to discredit her,” said one insider.
