Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo,Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO councillor for ward 10, Khalazani Ndlovu has tabled a motion to have the local authority’s junior council patron, Council Perseverance Nyathi, removed from her position and replaced by a ‘youthful councillor’.
This move is, however, against a council resolution that no changes will be made to any committee or position until 2028, as per a motion that was passed in August last year.
The resolution stated that all chairpersons, including those from outside council chambers such as representatives at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, Bulawayo Polytechnic, the city’s football club, will not be changed until 2028.
Clr Ndlovu reportedly generated the motion last week and it is now circulating among council directors before it is debated at a full council meeting.
In an interview with |Sunday News, Clr Ndlovu confirmed tabling the motion, without divulging further information.
“The motion I filed is about having a youthful patron councillor for the junior council,” she said.
A council source, however, alleged that Clr Ndlovu created the motion on the basis that Clr Nyathi clashed with junior councillors’ focal person, the local authority’s corporate communications officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, during an induction exercise for junior councillors.
Contacted for comment, Clr Nyathi professed ignorance regarding the purported motion, saying if such a motion to remove her based on age had been filed, it would be a misguided one.
“I am not aware of the motion to remove me as the junior council patron on basis that I allegedly clashed with the focal point person. The said incident was minor because it involved a mere correction on protocol. Mrs Mpofu asked a junior councillor to introduce the deputy mayor, Clr Edwin Ndlovu, which was a breach of protocol since there was a senior councillor,” said Cllr Nyathi.
“If a youthful councillor becomes the junior council patron, who will give mature guidance and civil advice to the youths? Guidance should come from someone old and with wisdom, the motion is not well thought out,” said Clr Nyathi.
She said the August 2024 full council resolution would have to be reversed first if she had to be removed from the patron position.
“The motion, probably driven by other motives, will open a Pandora’s box if those behind it are not careful. A resolution was passed that no changes will be made to chairpersons and or committees, even those outside council chambers,” said Cllr Nyathi.
