Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
THE Mayor of Victoria Falls, Councillor Prince Thuso Moyo, and his Deputy, Lungile Nyoni, are facing the axe, with councillors set to motion for a vote no confidence on the duo at the 64th ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday, Zimpapers can reveal.
The meeting was originally scheduled for Tuesday 2 June at 4:30pm in the Victoria Falls City Council Boardroom but was rescheduled by the Mayor for Thursday for reasons not known to Zimpapers.
12 councillors have signed a petition setting out a raft of allegations against the two officials, with the motion demanding their immediate removal from office.
“He acted together with His Worship Prince Thuso Moyo to suspend the Town Clerk in December 2024, which led council to a financial loss through paying the town clerk his salary for the period he was on suspension,” reads the petition against Deputy Mayor Lungile Nyoni by the councillors.
The document further alleges that the city also suffered in service delivery as a result of the suspension and that the same act caused further financial losses to the local authority by paying the investigating committee a US$2 000 to do the investigations on the alleged misconduct.
Councillors said up to this day the case has not been prosecuted.
The petition against Nyoni also accuses him of collecting money from residents under the pretence of allocating land.
“One resident, Faith Mbuso, who is contactable on (number withheld), had running battles with the Deputy Mayor in order to get her refund,” the petition reads.
Councillors warned that this conduct is putting the office of the councillor into disrepute and exposing the Victoria Falls City Council to potential lawsuits.
In the motion against Mayor Moyo, the allegations are equally serious.
“The Mayor also was not attending official Government duties after withdrawing Travel and Subsistence from council coffers, a matter which was reported at Victoria Falls Police Station under case number RRB 6668771 and CR17/04/26,” the petition reads.
Councillors further accuse him of substantial failure to fulfill the core duties outlined in the Urban Councils Act of attending council committee meetings as an ex officio.
“He is as good as not there,” reads the petition.
The petition states that there has been a loss of trust and support from the fellow councillors as he acts solo on issues that require team work.
According to the document, “He has never given any feedback to council and we are always in the dark on all trips the Mayor did.”
“Overall, the Mayor’s conduct has led to loss of confidence in council as an institution and Government in general because he claims to have protection from higher offices,” the councillors allege.
Both motions demand immediate removal from office and the election of replacements.
derick.khumalo