July Moyo suspends 6 Chitungwiza councilors over m...

July Moyo suspends 6 Chitungwiza councilors over meeting

Audrey Galawu

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo has suspended 6 Chitungwiza councilors on charges of gross misconduct and willful violation of the law. These arise over allegations of attending of an illegally constituted meeting.

He suspended the six in letters dated 10 and 11 October 2022.

Ward 21 councilor, Kudakwashe John stands accused of chairing the meeting and presiding over an unlawful election.

"You assumed the chairmanship of that illegal meeting when you knew that the Acting Mayor was the chairman who had authority to chair such a meeting.

"You proceeded to conduct elections of Mayor despite having been advised during the ordinary meeting that the issue of election for substantive mayor was pending before the High Court," wrote Minister July Moyo.

Minister Moyo alleges that the six convened their own gathering at Chitugwiza Municipality Council Chambers after the official ordinary meeting which was being chaired by Acting Mayor Kelvin Mutimbanyoka had been adjourned.

In his letter to Lovemore Maiko, Minister July accused the former of proposing Kudakwashe John as chair of the illegal meeting.

Moyo further alleges that Maiko, who is the former mayor had participated in the appointing of Tonderai Kasu as the Acting Town Clerk despite the appointment of another Town Clerk, Evangelista Machona during an official council meeting.

The other suspended councilors are Nyagondo (Ward 14), Chamutsa (Ward 5), Makweza (Ward 19) and Matiringe (Ward 10).

All 6 are CCC representatives.

The suspended councilors have 7 days to respond to the allegations. Meanwhile they are not allowed to conduct any business for or on behalf of council.