Bulawayo councillor suspended, faces 14 counts of fraud

BULAWAYO City Council Ward 1 councillor Josiah Mutangi has been suspended from office with immediate effect following allegations of fraud, gross misconduct and wilful violation of the law.

The suspension was announced during a council meeting held on Wednesday after the local authority received a formal notice from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

According to the notice, Minister Daniel Garwe said he had reasonable grounds to suspect that Mutangi was guilty of gross misconduct in terms of Section 114(1) of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15], as read with the Local Government Laws Amendment Act of 2016.

The minister alleged that Mutangi committed 14 counts of fraud by soliciting and accepting money from vendors while promising to allocate them vending bays, an act said to be contrary to council policy and the law.

Mutangi is also accused of abusing his position of trust for personal gain through what the ministry described as a pattern of fraudulent conduct involving false promises made to vendors.

The allegations further state that the councillor displayed gross incompetence by failing to follow laid-down procedures governing the allocation of vending bays, resulting in reputational damage to the local authority.

The ministry also alleges that Mutangi failed to declare a conflict of interest and breached the councillors’ code of conduct.

“The above allegations amount to gross misconduct and wilful violation of the laws aforementioned,” reads part of the notice.

Minister Garwe directed Mutangi to respond to the allegations within seven days of receiving the notice in terms of Section 114(2) of the Urban Councils Act.

Failure to respond within the stipulated period could result in the matter being referred to an independent tribunal for further investigation and possible determination.

During the period of suspension, Mutangi is barred from conducting any business on behalf of Bulawayo City Council, both within and outside council premises.

He will also not be entitled to any remuneration during the suspension period, in line with provisions of the Urban Councils Act.
The suspension comes at a time when local authorities across the country are facing increased scrutiny over governance, accountability and compliance with public service regulations.

Bulawayo City Council chamber secretary Sikhangele Zhou tabled the notice before council for information.
Meanwhile, three Victoria Falls City councillors elected under the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) have ceased to hold office after being recalled by their party.

The affected councillors were formally removed following a recall communicated by Minister Daniel Garwe through a letter dated May 27, 2026, addressed to Victoria Falls Town Clerk Ronnie Dube.

In the letter, Minister Garwe advised the local authority that the three councillors had been recalled by their sponsoring political party in terms of the law, resulting in the immediate termination of their council membership.

The three councillors were informed of the recall during a chaotic full council meeting held on Thursday.

“I wish to inform you that I am in receipt of a letter from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), stating that the following councillors have ceased to be members of the Citizens Coalition for Change Political Party: Mthunzi Mpofu (Ward Nine), Nkanyiso Sibindi (Ward 10) and Daniel Moyo (Ward 11).

“In terms of Section 278(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with Section (i)k, the above-mentioned wards are now vacant. In terms of Section 121 of the Electoral Act, please proceed to inform the Zimbabwe Electoral

Commission of these vacancies,” reads the letter.

However, chaos erupted when Sibindi rejected the recall, claiming the dismissal letter, dated May 27, was fraudulent.
Sibindi refused to vacate the premises, prompting council officials to call in law enforcement officers.

When police arrived, attempts to resolve the situation reportedly failed.
As negotiations continued, Sibindi allegedly jumped onto a table before leaping off and smashing a council laptop.

He then reportedly charged towards the Town Clerk, threatening to “beat him up”.
Police officers were forced to physically restrain Sibindi to prevent further violence. He was subsequently arrested and taken into police custody.