Fired councillors to remain in office

perform their duties until a case is proved against them, Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo has said.
Minister Chombo on Tuesday said his deputy, Sessel Zvidzai, wanted him to fire the six councilors and to lift the suspension on Mayor Tinashe Madamombe.
The six are deputy mayor Ivory Madamombe, Makesure Mafukidze, Norbert Dhokotera, Rindai Muchemwa, Rickson Muchemwa and Elizabeth Mafios.
They were fired by MDC-T for writing to Minister Chombo alleging corruption in the local authority.
The party wants them also fired from council.
Minister Chombo said, “I have asked him to furnish me with details of the alleged corruption.
“The allegations relate to multiple ownership of residential stands and failure to pay for housing land.”
Minister Chombo has previously refused to be drawn into MDC-T’s internal fights, most notably in Chitungwiza Municipality.
The Urban Councils’ Act does not provide for automatic dismissal of councillors from office when their political parties fire them.
A party simply loses its control of the individual councillors or full council with the councillors reserving the right to either join another party or serve as independents.
Twenty-two Chitungwiza councillors became independents after they were dismissed from MDC-T.
“Deputy Minister Zvidzai has approached me requesting that I fire the six councillors they fired from MDC-T and that I reinstate suspended Clr Madamombe as Mayor.
“I have told him that I will wait for the laws of natural justice to take effect. I have to first establish beyond reasonable doubt that the counci-llors are guilty of the allegations levelled against them.
“It is unfair to fire someone on the basis of beer talk. An investigation has to be done and allow the councillors a fair hearing if they have a case to answer,” he said.
The six were fired from MDC-T for allegedly taking orders from Zanu-PF.
Their party had petitioned Minister Chombo to suspend Mayor Madamombe for alleged corruption.