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Herald Correspondent
CCC councillors are said to be disrupting council business in Chitungwiza, allegedly in protest over the arrest and suspension of six of their colleagues.
The six are former mayor Lovemore Maiko, his ex-deputy Musa Makweza, Richard Chamutsa, Chengetai Nyagondo, Peter Matiringe and Kudakwashe Johns.
They appeared in court on Wednesday facing criminal abuse of office charges, disrupting council business and despondency.
The six were granted bail.
CCC councillors have been disregarding clearly laid down council procedures, snubbing full council meetings and stakeholder meetings in a development that disadvantages residents of their right to representation. The CCC councillors were suspended for illegally conducting a full council meeting, and re-electing former Maiko, this time to become substantive mayor. It is understood that the six were aware that elections could not be held until the case is resolved at the courts and that Cllr Kevin Mutimbanyoka legally remained the acting mayor of Chitungwiza.
On Wednesday, all CCC councillors snubbed a special full council meeting was meant to discuss council business.
The meeting had to be cancelled.
Cllr Mutimbanyoka told The Herald yesterday that the Government was welcome to appoint a commission to run the affairs of the town if CCC councillors continue to snub council meetings.
“If the Honourable Minister (of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo) considers to appoint a commission to run Chitungwiza, we welcome that decision because at the end of the day, it is not about us but us delivering to the people.
“Failure to deliver, Minister Moyo can exercise his right to restore order at our municipality,” he said. Cllr Mutimbanyoka said it was unfortunate that out of all metropolitan councils, Chitungwiza was the only one fighting Government’s developmental programmes, derailing progress.
Online Reporter