Masunda dismisses Zvidzai’s instructions on sacked councillors

Rural and Urban Development Deputy Minister Sessel Zvidzai over the reinstatement of dismissed councillors – Worship Dumba and Casper Takura.
Mr Dumba has disrupted two Harare committee meetings arguing that Mr Zvidzai had reinstated him.
On his part Mr Zvidzai claims the Global Political Agreement gives him equal powers to a Cabinet Minister and that he should be consulted before any action on local authorities and councillors is taken.
His boss Minister Ignatius Chombo has brushed that aside saying he was empowered by the Urban Councils Act to administer local authorities.
The Act does not state the role of a deputy minister.
Last week Mr Masunda met with Mr Zvidzai at Town House and discussed the matter.
“I told him that until Minister Chombo reverses his decision on the expulsion of the councillors, I have no choice but to abide by the provisions of the Urban Councils Act by excluding the councillors from meetings,” he said.
While Mr Zvidzai is fighting in the corner of Mr Dumba and Mr Takura for Harare, Mr Masunda said there were four other councillors who need support.
These are – Clrs Paul Gorekore, Sulas Machetu, Johnson Zaranyika and Maxwell Katsande.
“Whatever initiatives by Mr Zvidzai to achieve a political solution, he has to resolve them with his superior Ignatius Chombo.
“From a legal perspective, unless (minister) Chombo chooses to rescind the expulsion, the councillors have no legal basis to want to continue,” he said.
Mr Masunda said he was not taking sides with Minister Chombo but was simply applying the law.
“I have no choice but to abide. This is the rule of law,” he said.
Mr Masunda said the physical tussle that ensued between Mr Dumba and municipal police was not called for.
“That sort of thing should not happen in a civilised society,” he said.