News / Regional
Mayor promises to take Chombo 'head-on'
27 Jun 2013 at 10:48hrs | Views
Lionel De Necker, the suspended Gwanda Mayor, yesterday said he will take Local Government, Rural and Urban Development minister Ignatius Chombo head-on if he tries to block him from being nominated for election ahead of the pending harmonised elections.
Chombo reportedly issued an instruction declaring that all suspended councillors were barred from seeking nomination or election in the forthcoming polls.
However, the Gwanda mayor said he would challenge Chombo in court, as he was not the supreme authority.
"The law on suspensions only applies to those who were suspended for financial misappropriation, but Chombo wants to use that loophole to have a blanket ban on all suspended councillors," he charged.
"My suspension was illegal. What he is doing is a skewed application of the law."
De Necker, who has a number of court applications against Chombo, insisted that he will file his nomination papers for Gwanda's Ward 10 seat.
"I am not only going to take Chombo head–on, but I will also approach the courts which have power over him," he said.
"We have engaged our lawyers on the issue and the application will be filed on the day of the nomination court."
Chombo reportedly issued an instruction declaring that all suspended councillors were barred from seeking nomination or election in the forthcoming polls.
However, the Gwanda mayor said he would challenge Chombo in court, as he was not the supreme authority.
"The law on suspensions only applies to those who were suspended for financial misappropriation, but Chombo wants to use that loophole to have a blanket ban on all suspended councillors," he charged.
"My suspension was illegal. What he is doing is a skewed application of the law."
De Necker, who has a number of court applications against Chombo, insisted that he will file his nomination papers for Gwanda's Ward 10 seat.
"I am not only going to take Chombo head–on, but I will also approach the courts which have power over him," he said.
"We have engaged our lawyers on the issue and the application will be filed on the day of the nomination court."
Source - southern eye
