Vendor scam sinks Zanu PF councillor

Calls for stronger accountability, improved governance and more effective representation have intensified ahead of the Bulawayo Ward 1 by-election following the suspension of Zanu PF councillor Josiah Mutangi over allegations of vendor-bay fraud.

Mutangi was suspended by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe after the minister said there were reasonable grounds to suspect the councillor of gross misconduct and wilful violation of the law.

The suspension, which was tabled during the latest Bulawayo City Council meeting, stems from allegations that Mutangi committed 14 counts of fraud by allegedly soliciting and accepting money from informal traders in exchange for promising to allocate vending bays.

The allegations have not been tested before an independent tribunal or a court.

Former Bulawayo deputy mayor and ex-Ward 1 councillor Mlandu Ncube said residents deserved a representative who prioritises engagement, transparency and service delivery.

Ncube, who has not confirmed whether he intends to contest the by-election, said the ward requires leadership that actively involves residents in council programmes and addresses the needs of informal traders.

"Our ward needs proper representation, someone who will respect people and someone who will engage the community in every council programme," he said.

He said the next councillor should also focus on creating sustainable trading spaces for vendors.

"Someone who will assist the informal sector to get proper trading areas such as the ones we did near Highlanders and others," Ncube said.

Ibhetshu LikaZulu secretary-general Mbuso Fuzwayo said the issues surrounding Ward 1 reflected broader governance challenges affecting local authorities across the country rather than an isolated council problem.

"It’s not a council crisis, it’s the central government that is failing to have a proper governance system," Fuzwayo said.

He alleged that the suspended councillor had been involved in activities concerning vendors even before his election to council and argued that political dynamics had limited the local authority's ability to intervene.

"The suspended councillor was abusing his position even when he was not a councillor," he said.

"He put people outside council and council couldn’t do anything because he was always in a camouflage of a party against council."

Fuzwayo called for governance reforms aimed at protecting informal traders from exploitation by political actors.

He said elected councillors should focus on oversight and policy matters, while council officials should remain responsible for administration.

He also proposed that vending bays be managed through recognised vendor associations instead of direct engagement between individual politicians and traders.

"Council must have a policy that promotes association, and associations control bays. Council must not directly work with vendors," Fuzwayo said.

Although he did not rule out contesting the by-election, Fuzwayo said no decision had been made.

"At the moment I cannot confirm whether I will be the candidate or not, but what I can say is that Ward 1 needs leadership," he said.

The forthcoming by-election is expected to give Ward 1 residents an opportunity to elect a new councillor tasked with improving service delivery, restoring public confidence and strengthening accountability within local government.