Chronicle Editor
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
ANXIETY has gripped Bulawayo councillors amid threats by the interim secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition for Change, Mr Sengezo Tshabangu that whoever partakes in the calls by party president, Mr Nelson Chamisa to disengage from council business risks being recalled.
Mr Chamisa had called for the party members in the national assembly and local authorities to disengage from any official business for two weeks, which came to an end yesterday. The call was allegedly in solidarity with party members who they argue were “illegally” recalled by Mr Tshabangu.
However, Mr Tshabangu emphasised that anyone found taking the instruction to disengage will be recalled as they will be neglecting the mandate which was given to them by the electorate. As a result, panic struck Bulawayo councillors ignored Mr Chamisa’s directive and continued with their duties. This started with the councillors a couple of weeks ago convening to elect an acting mayor, as the sitting mayor, Councillor David Coltart was set to go on leave while his deputy, Clr Donaldson Mabuto had been recalled.
It has also emerged that councillors who make up the General Purposes Committee travelled with the city’s Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube to Harare last Sunday to attend the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe third annual public procurement conference, which was graced by President Mnangagwa.
The councillors that make up the committee include, Acting Mayor, Clr Ntombizodwa Khumalo, Clr Mpumelelo Moyo, Clr Dumisani Netha, Clr Edwin Ndlovu, Clr Mxolisi Mahlangu, Clr Rotini Sekete and Clr Aleck Ndlovu.
The group also included the local authority’s procurement manager, Mr Mlungelwa Khumalo.
According to a Fastjet Booking Confirmation (booking reference: AAV5DV), Mr Dube left on Sunday aboard flight FN8444 to Harare, which left Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International airport at 5.30pm. The local authority paid $21 million for the return ticket, with the group having returned to Bulawayo last Wednesday at 6.50am.
Contacted for comment, the city’s Acting Mayor, Clr Khumalo while not denying or confirming whether the councillors did not heed to the call to disengage, instead said she had a hectic schedule and would get back to this reporter.
“Unfortunately, I am in a meeting right now and cannot respond to that question, after that meeting I also have a meeting of the general purposes committee, my schedule is rather hectic, so I will have to get back to you,” said Clr Khumalo.
Further efforts to get hold of the acting mayor were fruitless. However, a councillor who spoke to this publication said that the majority of the councillors had decided to ignore Mr Chamisa’s disengagement call fearing possible recall by Mr Tshabangu.
“My brother, it is clear who is in charge here, we are going for by-elections in a few weeks, nomination court sits next (this) week, it clearly shows you who has the power. All councillors are doing is avoiding being recalled and besides we were elected to serve the people’s interests and disengaging doesn’t serve that purpose. Yes, in the first week councillors did not attend to any council business but after the President proclaimed the by-election dates, it is now clear who has the power to recall and in this case it is not Mr Chamisa,” said the councillor.
CCC recalled eight councillors on October 18 saying they were no longer members of the party while four others who were elected through a quota system were also recalled. The recalled include Ward 1 Councillor Shepherd Sithole, Ward 6 Clr Nkosinathi Hove Mpofu, Ward 9 Clr Donaldson Mabutho, Ward 18 Clr Takunda Madzana, Ward 20 Clr Simbarashe Dube, Ward 21 Clr Tinevimbo Maphosa, Ward 22 Clr Thobeka Moyo and Ward 24 Clr Arnold Batirai. Those affected from the PR list are Sarah Cronje, Tabeth Mhizha, Dorcas Sibanda and Zibusiso Tshongwe.
Online Reporter