News / Local
Bulawayo Mayor yet to be officially installed
26 Jul 2014 at 14:18hrs | Views
The Local government ministry is yet to officially instal the Bulawayo Mayor, almost a year after he was elevated to the local authority's top post.
Of all the urban councils, only the Mayor of Harare, Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni has been officially installed.
Manyenyeni was officially installed by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo in December last year.
In an interview with Radio Dialogue, Moyo said he was still waiting for official communication from the parent ministry.
"We were expecting to have a meeting with Minister Chombo on the yesterday (Thursday) but he has postponed his visit to Bulawayo the 30th of July. Maybe that is when we will discuss that issue," said Moyo
However, Moyo said his non installation was not affecting the discharge of his duties.
"The most crucial thing when it comes to the function of a mayor is the oath of office which you take immediately after being voted in as mayor. That was done.
"What is legally binding is the oath, the installation is just a mere ceremony and is not legally binding," he said.
Moyo said while it was the duty of the parent ministry to organise the swearing ceremonies of the mayors, the Bulawayo city council could take a pro-active approach and engage the ministry.
"However, the honours rest with us to make our own arrangements and invite the minister. But that has to be co-ordinated to guard against causing confusion," he said.
While the mayor has been in office for almost year, he has not been fully trained on council business.
This was revealed in by the Chamber Secretary Sikhangele Zhou, in a report contained in the latest council minutes that "the Mayor and Deputy Mayor (Councillor Gift Banda), had not been fully trained on issues relating to Council business."
Ever since the take over of urban councils by the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC), Chombo has had frosty relations with councillors from the opposition parties and in some cases has fired or suspended a few of them.
Of all the urban councils, only the Mayor of Harare, Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni has been officially installed.
Manyenyeni was officially installed by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo in December last year.
In an interview with Radio Dialogue, Moyo said he was still waiting for official communication from the parent ministry.
"We were expecting to have a meeting with Minister Chombo on the yesterday (Thursday) but he has postponed his visit to Bulawayo the 30th of July. Maybe that is when we will discuss that issue," said Moyo
However, Moyo said his non installation was not affecting the discharge of his duties.
"The most crucial thing when it comes to the function of a mayor is the oath of office which you take immediately after being voted in as mayor. That was done.
Moyo said while it was the duty of the parent ministry to organise the swearing ceremonies of the mayors, the Bulawayo city council could take a pro-active approach and engage the ministry.
"However, the honours rest with us to make our own arrangements and invite the minister. But that has to be co-ordinated to guard against causing confusion," he said.
While the mayor has been in office for almost year, he has not been fully trained on council business.
This was revealed in by the Chamber Secretary Sikhangele Zhou, in a report contained in the latest council minutes that "the Mayor and Deputy Mayor (Councillor Gift Banda), had not been fully trained on issues relating to Council business."
Ever since the take over of urban councils by the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC), Chombo has had frosty relations with councillors from the opposition parties and in some cases has fired or suspended a few of them.
Source - radio dialogue
