MDC-T delays appointment of mayors

MDC-T's application at the High Court seeking an order compelling the Government to accept the appointment of non-councillors as mayors in various cities and towns is holding up the installation of councillors, a senior Government officials has said.

In an interview yesterday Local Government, Rural and Urban Development secretary Mr Killian Mupingo said Government was waiting for the High Court to rule on the application before coming up with a date for the swearing in of councillors.

"As you are aware the MDC-T approached the High Court with an application after withdrawing their case from the electoral court. We stand guided by the proceedings at the High Court," he said.

Government instructed provincial and district administrators to ensure that those elected as mayors and chairpersons of councils come from elected councillors when they preside over the inauguration of councils.

In the directive Mr Mupingo said in terms of Section 274 (2) as read with Section 265 (2) and Section 275 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 20, mayors and chairpersons shall be elected from among elected councillors.

The directive sparked debate and the MDC-T filed an urgent chamber application at the Electoral Court which they later withdrew before lawyers from Mwonzora and Associates redirected the same application to the High Court last Friday.

Harare lawyer Mr Joseph Mandizha, who is representing outgoing Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo, secretary Mr Mupingo and the two provincial administrators for Harare and Bulawayo, filed a notice of opposition in which, Mr Mupingo deposed an affidavit describing the application as a mischievous venture that shows lack of seriousness.