Online Reporter
Dorothy N Sithole
INSIZA North residents of Ward 23 have submitted a petition of no confidence on their local councillor, Nomusa Moyo.
The petition was addressed to the Insiza Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party, and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
The petition was presented on Thursday by CCC District Committee member and Ward 23 resident Mr Given Ncube, alongside Mrs. Botshiwe Granger Ncube, an elder who has lived in the ward since the early 1970s.
Speaking to the media, Mr Ncube said residents are frustrated by what they describe as sustained neglect and poor representation by Clr Moyo.
“We travelled 200 km from Ward 23 to the Insiza Rural District Council offices,” Ncube said. “We would have come in larger numbers, but due to financial constraints, the community entrusted us to represent them. 584 residents signed this petition with their names, ID numbers, phone numbers, and signatures attached. Each signature represents someone who voted in the 23–24 August 2023 general elections for councillors, legislators, and the President.”
“What we have witnessed for the last three years is misrepresentation,” he continued. “Since receiving our votes, the councillor vanished. The only time we hear from her is when she comes to collect license fees from vendors. She disappeared, just like our party president, Nelson Chamisa, and we, the people, were left as orphans.”
“Maybe they plan to reappear only when the next election comes around. But we, the registered voters of Ward 23, will not tolerate that. This petition was written with the full agreement of residents. We expect a better response and will wait for approval from the authorities. The community cannot keep doing the councillor’s job while she collects a salary and benefits for doing nothing. We will not allow it.”
Mrs Granger echoed these sentiments, stating that the community’s patience has run out.
Key Grievances in the petition, which was submitted under the Rural District Councils Act [Chapter 29:13], include the neglect of environmental hygiene where ward 23 is unclean and neglected.
They said no leadership has been shown to organise clean-up campaigns, leading to uncontrolled littering and public health risks.
“Councillor Moyo irregularly collected vending license fees from vendors. She was later compelled by law to refund the money — Ref: CRB Bulawayo 640/24 and PP Ref ROAD 584/24. Residents say this breach of trust makes her unfit to handle public affairs.
“Further, while she was elected on a CCC ticket, Councillor Moyo campaigned for an independent candidate during the Insiza North parliamentary by-election in June 2025. Residents say this undermined voter trust and confused the electorate about who she represents,” reads the petition.
The residents further alleged that Clr Moyo has failed to hold regular ward meetings. Where meetings do occur, attendance is low due to lost trust, and residents are excluded from planning and decision-making.
“Since assuming the office, she has not provided feedback on council resolutions, budgets, or development projects. There is no functioning communication channel between the council and the ward.
“Donations and community benefits are selectively distributed to her political supporters and associates, excluding vulnerable residents outside her faction and there has been no visible progress on road maintenance or infrastructure. Residents continue to hold meetings in a community hall with a falling ceiling, with no intervention,” reads the petition.
The residents demanded that an investigation be done on Clr Moyo’s conduct, the initiation of proceedings for a vote of no confidence in line with council standing orders and the facilitation of her removal and replacement if the vote is upheld, to restore proper representation and service delivery in Ward 23.
“We believe urgent action is necessary to protect the interests of Ward 23 residents and restore confidence in local governance.”
