Coltart calls for suspension of charged councillors

Bulawayo mayor David Coltart has called for councillors facing charges of dishonesty, corruption or abuse of office arising from their official duties to be automatically suspended pending the conclusion of legal or disciplinary proceedings.

Coltart made the remarks following the arrest of four Bulawayo councillors, including his deputy, last week on extortion charges.

Deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu, who chairs the business and stands allocation committees, Ward 28 councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu, Ward 15 councillor Ashton Mhlanga and Ward 3 councillor Mxolisi Mahlangu were arrested alongside former councillor Rodney Jele by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).

They are accused of soliciting a US$52,000 bribe from a local businessman. The councillors have denied the allegations.

Coltart said he would not comment on the merits of the specific case, emphasising that the accused were presumed innocent until proven guilty.

However, he said the latest arrests had intensified concerns over the integrity of the 38-member city council.

Ward 26 councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, who chairs the finance committee, has already been convicted of a criminal offence relating to bribery and is awaiting the outcome of his appeal before the High Court.

Ward 1 councillor Josiah Mutangi, meanwhile, was convicted of collecting unjustified payments from street vendors and was subsequently removed from office by Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe.

Coltart said six councillors were either facing criminal charges or had been convicted of offences, a situation he said was damaging public confidence in the local authority.

"This deeply undermines public confidence in the council," he said.

The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has called on the council to take action independently of the criminal proceedings being pursued by the State.

Among its recommendations is for the council to institute its own internal disciplinary proceedings against councillors facing allegations of misconduct.

Coltart, however, said the council does not have the legal authority to suspend councillors.

According to the mayor, the power to suspend councillors rests with the local government minister, who may suspend a councillor and order an investigation where there are reasonable grounds to suspect misconduct. The matter may subsequently be referred to an independent tribunal where necessary.

"My own view is that councillors charged with offences involving dishonesty, corruption or abuse of office directly related to their office as councillors should automatically be suspended pending either their acquittal or the outcome of the internal investigation and decision of the Tribunal," Coltart said.

He stressed that the decision to suspend councillors was not within his powers.

Coltart also proposed that councillors who are suspended should have their positions temporarily filled in an acting capacity by other councillors to ensure continuity in the council's operations.

The mayor also responded to BPRA's call for the enforcement of asset declarations for councillors and council employees.

He said he had attempted to introduce the policy shortly after taking office but encountered resistance.

Coltart said the council's human resources director informed him on July 7 that implementation of the policy had stalled, and he had undertaken to expedite the process.

He said asset declarations should apply to both elected councillors and council employees.

"Unless we deal with the scourge of corruption in Bulawayo, and indeed throughout Zimbabwe, we will not realise the tremendous potential of our city and nation," Coltart said.