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Vusumuzi Dube, Municipal Reporter
THE faction-ridden Bulawayo City Council has been thrown into turmoil amid attempts to elevate Cowdray Park councillor Collet Ndhlovu to become acting deputy mayor.
The position of deputy mayor fell vacant after the expulsion of Mr Gift Banda on corruption allegations. Mr Banda has however, challenged the expulsion which therefore sets it aside until court procedures are fully instituted. Reports emanating from the council chambers indicate that councillors were almost on each other’s throats during a closed door council session where councillors aligned to Clr Ndhlovu attempted to fast-track a motion that would have seen him being appointed the deputy mayor in waiting.
Clr Ndhlovu’s camp is largely made up of councillors who once allegedly threatened to dump the MDC-T party to join the then MDC Renewal team. Some of these councillors include; Clr Lillian Mlilo (Ward 12), Clr Sithabile Mataka Moyo (Ward Two), Clr Gladys Masuku (Ward 10) and Clr Shilla Musonda (Ward 8).
The other faction is reportedly backing Ward 15 Councillor Tamani Moyo. This faction allegedly has heavyweights that include the mayor Clr Martin Moyo, caucus chairperson, Clr Silas Chigora and Ward One Councillor Mlandu Ncube among others. Council sources revealed the motion was penned by Clr Ndhlovu’s close ally, Ward 12 councillor, Lillian Mlilo who noted that instead of using a rotation system whenever the mayor, Clr Martin Moyo was on leave, a permanent acting deputy mayor should be appointed.
Council sources revealed that the Cowdray Park councillor was so determined to see the motion through that he bunked the main full council meeting but only arrived for the council in committee where the issue was set to be deliberated on. Clr Mlilo was further pushing for the appointment of permanent caretaker councillors for wards five and 23 which were left vacant by Mr Banda and Mr Thobani Ncube who was suspended after being convicted of a criminal offence.
“Clr Ndhlovu’s camp wanted to arm twist councillors into endorsing the motion, which would have seen him being elevated into the position of substantive acting deputy mayor, however, as a counter other councillors held a caucus before the meeting where it was felt that it was premature for the councillors to take such a step. During the caucus it was agreed that rather we throw the issue out, instead we will now have to consult our parent party because as far as we are concerned we take a lead from them and no one can just move such a huge motion as it will be viewed as cutting corners,” said the source.
Another councillor accused Clr Ndhlovu of being too greedy as he had “felt” the perks of being a deputy mayor and now wanted to be elected through the back door.
“We all know that during his stint as acting mayor, he became too comfortable, forgetting that this was all on rotational basis. He is totally forgetting that these issues have procedures and no one can just wake up and become deputy mayor. Besides, what kind of position is substantive acting deputy mayor?
“He is clearly becoming power hungry, last time he took the mayoral car, driver and even demanded fuel to go to his own rural home and in the media he claimed he could do this because he was the acting mayor but we all know that he was lying, actually it was Clr Mlilo who was the acting mayor that month,” said the councillor who also declined to be named.
Contacted for comment, council caucus chairperson, Clr Silas Chigora confirmed attempts to have councillors elect a substantive acting deputy mayor but said that the efforts were strongly resisted by a majority of the councillors.
He said the motion itself was wrong as it ignored council and party procedures that clearly stated parameters to be followed when appointing such key positions.
“Yes, I am aware of that motion, which was brought by Clr Lillian Mlilo. As councillors we however, decided to turn it down because it did not suit the criteria we go through when electing such key positions. We will now have to consult our parent party to seek direction but I know it will be turned down because the party position is now guided by the court outcome considering that Mr Banda appealed his expulsion,” said Clr Chigora.
Meanwhile, the town clerk, Mr Christopher Dube has since apologised for his decision to allow Clr Ndhlovu to use the mayoral vehicle to travel to Zhombe for his father’s funeral. According to a council confidential report it has since emerged that according to council procedures this was illegal as mayoral vehicles could only travel a 40 kilometre radius from the city centre.
“The town clerk had made the decision basing on the experiences he had on the use of the mayoral vehicles by mayors in other local authorities in general and specifically in the local authority he had served as town clerk before coming to Bulawayo, where there were no conditions attached and no limits to the use of vehicles by the mayor. The error was sincerely regretted,” reads part of the report.
According to the report, Clr Ndhlovu had travelled to Zhombe for his father’s funeral using the mayoral Mazda BT50 vehicle before proceeding to Victoria Falls where he was meant to attend a workshop on Results Based Management (RBM) with other councillors.
“Initially councillors felt that the matter be referred to the audit section as both the town clerk and Clr Ndhlovu had done some acts of misconduct but after the town clerk’s apology we then decided to be lenient,” said a council source.
Bongani Ndlovu