Gwanda Council torn apart

The ZANU PF dominated Municipality of Gwanda Council is on a serious collision course following strong divisions amongst the seven ZANU PF councillors in a council of ten.

Reports coming from the council indicate that the divisions in the council are mainly based on those faithful to ZANU PF strong men Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Obert Mpofu and those sympathetic to "unliked" Gwanda Central Member of Parliament Edison Gumbo.

The divisions in council are said to be have been caused by Minister Mpofu's purchase of Forbes and Thompson Buildings in the town which were being managed by Mr Gumbo while still employed by Forbes and Thompson. Gumbo himself operated several of his businesses in the Forbes and Thompson buildings and was evicted from the buildings by Minister Mpofu when he bought the buildings.

Gumbo operated a guest house and a restaurant in the buildings and rented several other shops which he sublet to other tenants. Also evicted from the buildings was Mayor Councillor Knowledge Ndlovu who operated a viable Butchery in the buildings.

Trouble started when Minister Mpofu assigned his Gwanda right hand man councillor Thulani Moyo to manage his Gwanda properties. Gumbo and Ndlovu consequently felt belittled by having Moyo being the man in charge of them and Moyo's subsequently issuing them with eviction notices.

Late last year, councillor Moyo was in the media and community going around claiming credit that he rescued the town from imminent disaster as he had individually and through his connections managed to entice Minister Mpofu to purchase a $100 000 commercial stand and pay ZINWA to restore water supply to the town. This infuriated council which accused Moyo of stepping over council by claiming credit for the arrangement. The issue brought a very heated argument in council with councillor Moyo threatening to resign from council and the mayor "facing the consequences" there of, according to reports from council.

Also, according to sources around the council this tore the council apart with four of the councillors backing Moyo more so because of his links with Minister Mpofu. Reports indicate that, mayor Ndlovu was then left with the backing of one ZANU PF councillor and the three opposition councillors.

The latest debacle in council arose when mayor Ndlovu was said to have been given a $3 000 compensation or loan for medical expenses on an injury he incurred while playing social soccer at the mayor's cheer fund fundraising day. The councillor Moyo led faction was quick to query the arrangement disrupting a full council meeting meant to discuss a separate council issue. The fracas ended with the mayor asking councillor Moyo to leave council chambers for being insubordinate to the mayor.

Moyo is said to have left the chamber in a scornful laugh at the mayor amidst cheers from those loyal to him. Moyo is said to have told the mayor that he will never do anything to him because he is more powerful than him in the party, well connected and has money.

Reports in the faction torn council indicate that Mayor Ndlovu has no respect from the ZANU PF councillors because of his low ranking in the party structures. The councillors seem to be favouring deputy mayor Albert Ndlovu who is more senior than the mayor in the party. Mayor Ndlovu is said to be in a very difficult position as he is said not to be able to make personal decisions and is always under scrutiny of his senior at party level Deputy Mayor Albert Ndlovu.

Rumours emanating from the council are that Ndlovu is likely not to complete his mayoral term as the councillors are planning on moves through the influential Mpofu to push for the suspension of the mayor through Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo. Ndlovu is accused of being too considerate to the three opposition councillors in council and for also aligning himself to MP Edison Gumbo who is not in good terms with Minister Mpofu and Minister for Provincial Affairs for Matebeleland South, Abednico Ncube.