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Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Reporter

All sitting mayors, their deputies and chairpersons of committees elected prior to the past by-elections should remain in office according to the law, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo has confirmed.

This comes amid serious chaos that was erupting in councils, including Harare, where the CCC councillors were trying to set up parallel structures including their own standing committees.

In a circular to all mayors and chairpersons on the effect of by-election results on council structures, Minister Moyo said: “As I congratulate the new councillors who have been elected, may l take this opportunity to remind councils that this was not a general election and as such the sitting Mayors, Deputy Mayors, chairpersons of committees and their deputies remain as constituted prior to the by-election.

“In terms of section 114 of the Local Government Laws Amendment Act number 8 of 2016, a Mayor, Deputy mayor or councillor can only be removed from his position through an independent tribunal or through section 129 of the Constitution,” he said.

“You are therefore advised that your councils cannot reconstitute the leadership architecture in place unless there is a vacancy.” Minister Moyo said.

Last week a Harare City Council special council meeting was cancelled when opposition councillors nearly exchanged blows, AND with riot and municipal police having to intervene as the CCC wanted to smuggle in an agenda of reconstituting committees in clear disregard of the Urban Councils Act.

However, the CCC councillors considered the meeting to have reconstituted committees and yesterday attempted to elect themselves onto the human resources and general purposes committee as well as the information and publicity committee.

An agenda circulated to the councillors by acting chamber secretary Mr Warren Chiwawa showed that the new splinter committees only had names of CCC councillors and none from MDC-T.

“Notice is hereby given that a physical meeting of the above committee will be hosted in the council chamber, Town House on Thursday April 21 at 11am,” reads part of the circular.

According to the agenda the committee was supposed to elect a chairperson and the vice.

On the human resource matters the council was seeking authority to pay interim cost of living adjustment for the second quarter for 2022 to cushion council employees.

The planned splinter CCC Human Resources and General Purposes Committee had Cllrs Charles Chidagu, Stephen Dhliwayo, Kudzai Kadzombe, Stewart Wutawaunashe, Lovemore Makuwerere, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, Gaudencia Marera, Enock Mupamawonde, Girisoti Mandere, Denford Ngadziore, Charles Nyatsuro, Tonderai Chakeredza and Simon Mapanzure.

The CCC Information and Publicity Committee had Clrs Tonderai Chakaredza, Keith Charumbira, Gaudencia Marera, Happymore Gotora, Lovemore Makuwerere, Charles Nyatsuro, Stephen Dhliwayo, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, Kudzai Kadzombe, Elvis Ruzani and Loveness Gomba.

Recalled Mayor Jacob Mafume, who challenged his recall at the High Court, is also accused of using council coffers to attend meetings despite an appeal having been lodged.

The existing Human Resources and General Purposes Committee constitutes Cllrs Tichavona Mhetu, Brian Matione, Eugenia Chipfiwa, Joseph Kunashe, Patson Mangwiro, Tendai Matafi, Clifton Zumba and Stewart Wutaunashe.

Information and Publicity Committee comprises Eugenia Chipfiwa, Midia Mudariki, Tracy Chagaresango, Loveness Gomba, Mercy Kasvosve, Patson Mangwiro, Theresa Manase, Tendai Matafi, Martin Matinyanya, Brian Matione and Elvis Ruzani.