Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo,Check Point Desk
BULAWAYO City councillors nearly exchanged blows on Wednesday at the council chambers over differences emanating from the proposed Johannesburg trip that was initially scheduled for last Friday but was postponed to a later date.
The councillors were clashing over the composition of the 29-member delegation that is meant to travel on a water utility fact-finding mission.
Of the 29, 10 are councillors.
Sources revealed that ward 24 councillor, Tawengwa Zidya and ward three councillor, Mxolisi Mahlangu came to near blows, during a council in-committee meeting, after the former questioned how the town clerk, Mr Christopher Dube chose ward 15 councillor, Ashton Mhlanga, as a replacement for Finance committee chairperson, Clr Mpumelelo Moyo, who cannot be part of the trip because his passport was handed over as part of bail conditions for a bribery case that he is facing.
“Accusations and counter-accusations started flying from one end to the other until it became a direct one-on-one exchange between Clr Zidya and Cllr Mahlangu.
“Had it not been for the distance separating the two councillors, council chambers may as well have been a boxing ring as Clr Mahlangu at one time removed his jacket and watch while folding his shirt’s sleeves,” said the source.
Another source said Ward 17 councillor, Sikhululekile Moyo, told Mr Dube that he was the one causing differences among councillors as it was not clear how the South Africa-bound delegation was chosen, more so Cllr Moyo’s replacement.
Bulawayo mayor Clr David Coltart, who was present throughout the chaotic scenes, could neither confirm nor deny yesterday’s dramatic events.
“I would rather not comment,” he said.
