Councillor faces ban over spat with mayor

Muchadeyi Masunda after he refused to retract the word “warn” in his address to the mayor was again at the centre of controversy during a special council meeting last Wednesday.
He insisted he would not retract the word.
For his refusal to accede to demands by fellow councillors, Clr Nyachowe for the second time in seven days was forced to leave the meeting.
He now faces a ban by his colleagues from attending any council meetings as the councillors show their intolerance to strong personal opinions.
Clr Paula Macharangwanda raised the issue saying the meeting could not go ahead before Clr Nyachowe apologised for using the word “warn”.
Last week Clr Nyachowe warned Mr Masunda against abusing council chambers to promote personal and MDC-T interests.
In his opening sentence he said he wanted to “warn” the mayor against abusing the council chambers to promote personal interests.
Mr Masunda had spent close to an hour giving notices, reading letters and making announcements of his impending trips abroad. He had also mentioned that he had received a delegation from the MDC-T at Town House and implored council to work closely with the party’s new Harare executive.
He then described the MDC-T as the biggest political party in Zimbabwe.
Clr Nyachowe then stood up to challenge Mr Masunda, accusing him of championing personal and MDC-T political agendas during full council meetings.
Clr Hiernymo Torongo said he thought in a democratic society individuals were supposed to air their views.
“Clr Nyachowe was expressing his opinion. Personalising the issue borders on intimidation,” he said.
But Clr Julius Musevenzi said Clr Nyachowe had shown disrespect to the office of the mayor.
Clr Urayayi Mangwiro said Clr Nyachowe had the right to express his opinion but should not have used the word warn.
Clr Thomas Muzuva said what was under attack was the office of the mayor – a position that other councillors wanted respected.
Mr Masunda then gave Clr Nyachowe the opportunity to retract the word warn but Clr Nyachowe refused. He said on the day he initially walked out he was responding to the two options given to him, which were he either apologises and stays in the meeting or go out.
“I went out. Now in a new meeting I cannot be subject to the same,” he said.
Clr Musevenzi proposed that if Clr Nyachowe refused to retract the word he should leave or the meeting would be adjourned.
But another special interest councillor Angus Martens said the councillors were losing the plot because special councils do not discuss anything else other than matters on the agenda.
Special interest Clr Kizito Kuchekwa inquired whether Mr Masunda had been personally hurt by the use of the word “warn” or the councillors “were offended on your behalf”.
Mr Masunda did not respond.
Clr Peter Mudavanhu said Clr Nyachowe should be banned from attending council meetings.