Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
VICTORIA FALLS Mayor Prince Thuso Moyo is facing a no-confidence motion after councillors accused him of gross misconduct, incompetence and violating the law.
The motion was tabled during a Full Council meeting on Tuesday evening by Ward 10 Councillor Thindolie Sibanda and seconded by Ward 9 Councillor Tapiwa Sibanda.
However, the meeting descended into chaos and failed to proceed after the Town Clerk, Mr Ronnie Dube, ruled that the motion had not followed the required procedure.
The motion accuses Mayor Moyo of failing to attend official Government engagements, council committee meetings and of allegedly acting outside his powers.
“The mayor has not been attending official Government duties after withdrawing Travel and Subsistence allowances from council coffers, a matter reported at Victoria Falls Police Station under case numbers RRB 6668771 and CR17/04/26,” reads part of the motion.
“While the criminal investigation is still pending finalisation, I humbly submit that this conduct has put the council’s name into disrepute, and the money taken has not been recovered.”
Councillors also accused the mayor of failing to fulfil his duties as an ex-officio member of council committees.
“He is as good as not there. The mayor does not attend any of the committee meetings where he is an ex-officio member, thereby failing to play an oversight role,” the motion states.
“As a result of his failure to supervise or advise committees, the council committees have made grossly incompetent decisions, even on land allocation.”
The motion further accuses Mayor Moyo of unilaterally suspending Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube in December 2024, resulting in council allegedly incurring costs through payment of his salary during the suspension and US$2 000 paid to an investigating committee.
The mayor had suspended Mr Dube amid allegations of corruption and abuse of office. The suspension triggered divisions within council, with Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe subsequently directing council to rescind the resolution.
The councillors’ motion alleges that the mayor’s conduct had resulted in a loss of confidence in his leadership.
“Overall, the Mayor has wilfully violated his oath of office and has brazenly violated the law as outlined herein. His level of competence is so low that he should not continue holding such office,” reads the motion.
However, Town Clerk Mr Dube told councillors that the motion could not be dealt with because it had not been submitted within the required timeframe for inclusion on the council agenda.
“The motion should be brought within a specific time frame to allow it to be put on the agenda,” Mr Dube advised.
The meeting was subsequently called off after some councillors refused to be chaired by Mayor Moyo, while members of the gallery protested, arguing that the motion had already been moved and seconded and should therefore be debated.
The motion seeks the removal of Mayor Moyo from office in terms of Section 278 of the Constitution.
Mayor Moyo could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.
The latest development comes months after councillors had previously sought to remove Mayor Moyo and his deputy, Lungile Nyoni, with allegations including failure to attend council business and disputes surrounding the suspension of the town clerk.
