MDC-T councillor suspended for 'insulting' Mugabe

BUBI Rural District Council (RDC) has suspended an MDC-T councillor who was arrested last month for posting a message on a WhatsApp group denigrating President Robert Mugabe.

The MDC-T ward 18 councillor, Nduna Matshazi, was arrested for posting the message insulting President Mugabe on a councillors' group chat on the social media platform.

The group's administrator notified the police about the message, leading to Matshazi's arrest.

The councillor adulterated the Lord's Prayer to denigrate the President.

Bubi RDC Chief Executive Officer Patson Mlilo said it was decided before a budget consultative meeting on Thursday that Matshazi should be suspended.

"The team felt they could not deliberate their ideas in the presence of a member with that kind of behaviour. The full council resolved that he be suspended until his case is finalised," said Mlilo.

He said police said yesterday that they were still carrying out investigations.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese could not immediately comment on the suspended councillor's case.

Last month, the administrator of the chat group, who declined to be named, told The Chronicle that he was offended when Clr Matshazi digressed from discussing development issues that councillors had created the group for.

The WhatsApp chat group, Bubi RDC, has 23 councillors and three council officials as members.

"We created this group solely for communication as council. As council we notify each other on meetings dates, agendas and other business. When Matshazi's message reflected on the group chat, everyone reacted with shock and we later reported him to the police," he said.