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The position comes with perks that include all expense paid trips and attractive subsistence allowances to any place in the world on council business.
The rotation was common council practice, done every August, before the present crop of councillors assumed office in 2008.
Angry councillors reportedly confronted the Mayor, Clr Thaba Moyo demanding to know why the issue had not been discussed at the full council meeting.
They called for an emergency full council meeting to discuss the matter but the request was turned down. The motion has since been scheduled for discussion at the full council meeting in January.
“It was wrong for the mayor to refer the matter back to the GP because it had already been discussed by the committee. These power-hungry people lied to us saying the MDC-T had banned rotation. On 6 December, we were called to the party headquarters in Bulawayo and they were severely reprimanded for the lie,” said a councillor.
The councillor said the issue was then supposed to be discussed at the full council meeting the following day.
“Amazingly, the mayor referred it back to the GP, the very people who do not want this motion discussed. Maybe he has a hidden agenda,” said the councillor.
Another councillor said they would be required to set a date for re-elections at the meeting.
“We have agreed with other councillors to call for fresh elections of committees soon after the full council meeting next year. This circus has gone on for too long. It is unfortunate that council policy does not allow us to do it on the same day,” said the councillor.
The motion submitted by Clr Bent read: “I write to raise a motion that councillors rotate from one committee to another so as to give an opportunity to all councillors to be capacitated and equipped with necessary knowledge and know-how of council operations. This will not only help councillors to be an integral part of the Bulawayo City Council, but also enhance effective decision making. I feel the organisation can only benefit from such rotation.”
Contacted for comment, Clr Moyo who is the GP chairperson because he is the city’s mayor said it was correct procedure for him to refer the matter back to the GP.
“It is council policy to refer a matter that has been deferred by a committee, back to the same committee for it to be taken to the next stage. I am happy to say the GP has resolved to have the motion discussed at the next full council meeting during the second week of January,” said Clr Moyo.
He said the chairpersons had nothing to fear because it was possible for them to be re-elected if councillors still wanted their leadership.
The General Purposes committee’s members are Councillors Nduna Dladla (Finance and Development), Thembeni Khoza (Health Housing and Education) Edward Ndlovu (Environmental Management and Engineering), Phinias Ndlovu (Town Lands and Planning) and James Sithole (Municipal Procurement).
Online Reporter