MDC-T warned against imposing Bulawayo mayor

FORMER Bulawayo deputy mayor Amen Mpofu has warned the MDC-T leadership against interfering with the selection process of the city's new mayor, saying such moves would adversely affect the running of the local authority.

Mpofu's comments come following reports that the Bulawayo provincial structures had resisted moves by the national executive to impose outgoing Speaker of the House of Assembly, Lovemore Moyo, amid a growing list of people interested in the post.

"I do not want to appear as if I am pointing fingers, but I believe that the elected 29 councillors were elected by the people," he said.

"They are mature people capable of making decisions and choosing who they want to be mayor."

Mpofu said the councillors should be allowed to have a final say on the matter. He warned that an imposed mayor would find the going tough in carrying out council business.

"Speaking from experience as a councillor who served two terms, if the party imposes a mayor, he or she will not be accepted and will find it hard to work with councillors and that would be very unfortunate," Mpofu said.

"Are we getting into politics for positions or enrichment or we want to serve the people? "The kind of jostling that we are seeing is quite shocking. Officials should prioritise working for the people."

MDC-T won all 29 seats in the Bulawayo council elections and whoever a party caucus chooses to be mayor is guaranteed the city's top post. Moyo, who lost his Matobo North seat to Zanu-PF in the recent elections, reportedly has the backing of MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe.