THE Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has
accused MDC leader Nelson Chamisa of “hypocrisy” by meddling in council affairs
after the party locked out mayor Solomon Mguni and five councillors from the
provincial headquarters.
However, opposition party provincial spokesperson Swithern
Chirowodza insisted that the MDC was not interfering in council business but
was “distancing itself from certain resolutions”.
“Whatever negative resolutions the councillors implement
will impact on the party’s electoral fortunes come 2023. For example, the party
wants the position advertised when the time is due. The councillors must not
preclude other hopefuls by renewing the town clerk’s contract ahead of time,”
Chirowodza said.
The party blocked Mlandu Ncube, Pilate Moyo, Lilian Mlilo,
Sikhululekile Moyo and Earnest Rafamoyo for renewing town clerk Christopher
Dube’s contract by another five years.
The councillors endorsed Dube’s contract during a general
purposes council meeting where they unanimously voted to extend his term.
The decision by the councillors did not sit down well with
the MDC, which accused Dube of pushing elitist policies.
The province went on
to bar the six councillors from accessing Getrude Mthombeni House for failing
to consult prior to renewing Dube’s contract, while indicating that they will
face further censure.
BPRA chairperson Ambrose Sibindi accused the Chamisa-led
MDC of interfering in the day-to-day running of council business and attempting
to influence the appointment of the town clerk.
“Residents are calling for devolution of power. How then
does the MDC want to run BCC using remote control without consulting Bulawayo
residents? I urge residents to resist such dictatorial tendencies by the MDC
leadership,” Sibindi said.
Speaking in Bulawayo last month, Chamisa defended local
authorities from accusations of delivering mediocre services, saying his party
was not in control of local authorities but they were at the mercy of
government. Daily News
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