Bulawayo councillors walk out of meeting chaired by deputy mayor

Bulawayo's Town Clerk, Mr. Christopher Dube, has issued a clarification regarding the election of a new Deputy Mayor, stating that city councillors do not have the authority to elect a new Deputy Mayor unless a permanent vacancy arises due to circumstances such as death, suspension, or dismissal. This statement comes as political maneuvering heats up among councillors, with some positioning themselves to replace Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, who is currently facing bribery charges.

Clr Ndlovu, along with Finance and Development Committee chairperson Clr Mpumelelo Moyo, is out on bail after allegedly soliciting a US$20,000 bribe from Labenmon Investments in exchange for facilitating the approval of land for a cement mixing plant. Following these allegations, reports have surfaced that a faction of councillors is calling for Ndlovu's resignation and has started lobbying for his replacement.

However, the Town Clerk's recent report, shared with councillors during an in-committee session on Wednesday, has clarified the legal process concerning the position of Deputy Mayor. According to the report, the Urban Councils' Act (Chapter 29:15), specifically Section 104 (3), stipulates that no election for the Deputy Mayor can be held unless there is a permanent vacancy.

"As prescribed in Section 104 (3) of the Urban Councils' Act (Chapter 29:15), whenever the offices of both the mayor or chairperson and the deputy mayor or deputy chairperson are vacant, incapacitated, or fail to act, their functions under this Act, any other law, or any resolution of the council shall be exercised by a councillor appointed by the council for that purpose, or, failing such appointment, by a councillor appointed by the minister," the report explains.

In such cases of temporary vacancies, the council has traditionally selected representatives from the General Purposes Committee based on a hierarchy determined by the ranking of departments. For example, in the absence of both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the chairperson of the Finance and Development Committee assumes the first rank, followed by the chairperson of the Environmental Management and Engineering Services Committee, and so on.

The Town Clerk added that the ranking system would be followed during temporary vacancies, eliminating the need for an election, while elections will only be held in cases of permanent vacancies, such as death, suspension, or dismissal.

Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Clr Ndlovu's position as acting Mayor escalated on Wednesday, when several councillors staged a walkout during an in-committee session, protesting his role as chair. The session marked the first full council meeting since both Clr Ndlovu and Clr Moyo were released on bail.

While Clr Ndlovu was absent during the full council meeting, Clr Moyo attended the session. The Mayor, David Coltart, was away attending the African Investment Forum in Rabat, Morocco. Clr Dumisani Netha, the chairman of the Town and Planning Committee, chaired the meeting in the Mayor's absence.

However, when Clr Ndlovu arrived for the in-committee meeting, where he was expected to take the chair as acting mayor, a group of nine councillors walked out immediately after the prayer marking the start of the session. The walkout was reportedly in protest of Clr Ndlovu chairing the meeting.

Sources indicated that nine councillors walked out, including Tawenga Zidya, Nkosinathi Hove, Felix Madzana, Lovewell Mwinde, Royini Sekete, Tinevimbo Maposa, Bruce Mmeli Moyo, Mellissa Mabeza, and Lazarus Mpandwe. Another five councillors did not attend the session. Despite the walkout, the meeting proceeded with a quorum provided by those who remained.

The protests and walkout signal growing divisions within the council, as councillors continue to navigate the fallout from the bribery charges against Clr Ndlovu and the uncertainty surrounding his future in office.